Would local non-profit societies that benefit the community receive the same tax exemptions in a Sorrento-Blind Bay Municipality as they do today in Electoral Area C (and as they would in Area C1)?

Section 15(q) of the Local Government Act states that in electoral areas, properties (lands and improvements) owned and used exclusively by a local non-profit organization for "activities that are of demonstrable benefit to all members of the community" are exempt from taxation.  In municipalities, which are subject to the terms of the Community Charter, these properties are not automatically exempt from taxation.  Under section 224(2)(a) of the Charter, however, Municipal councils may provide permissive tax exemptions each year to non-profit organizations that use their properties for purposes that are directly related to the organizations' purposes.  The same properties would be exempted from taxes levied for regional district services that are provided to the properties.

It is important to note that tax exemptions for non-profit groups, while not automatic in municipalities, are provided each year as permissive exemptions by all municipal councils, including the Councils of Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Revelstoke, and Golden.  It is reasonable to assume that local non-profit groups in Blind Bay and Sorrento that are exempted from property taxes today would be provided permissive tax exemptions in a future municipality.

Non-profit organizations benefit in electoral areas and municipalities from local government grants.  In the Sorrento-Blind Bay Incorporation Study, the budget projections for the incorporation option assume that a new municipality would provide the same amount of local government grants-in-aid as are provided now under the Electoral Area C Grants-in-Aid service.

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1. In the recent virtual presentation the Consultant stated that by year 7 there would be about $14 million in reserves. How will those reserves be funded?
2. Would residents in a new Sorrento-Blind Bay Municipality continue to receive the Home Owner Grant that they receive today in Electoral Area C?
3. Would local non-profit societies that benefit the community receive the same tax exemptions in a Sorrento-Blind Bay Municipality as they do today in Electoral Area C (and as they would in Area C1)?
4. How do the projected taxes for Sorrento and Blind Bay compare to taxes in small municipalities elsewhere?
5. The Local Roads Service Sheet, in Figure 5, shows two scenarios for road service costs. What additional services would be provided for the higher "Municipal Level Operations" budget?
6. How many admin staff would the municipality require? In one answer you state seven; then in another you state 15. Also, what admin positions are needed and what are the corresponding salaries for each
7. Why do all of the studies use a $400,000 average home price? If the average home price were $800,000 instead of $400,000 what would that change do to all of your examples in the documents? Would the i
8. If a person has commercial property in the proposed incorporation area from which they run a business, but their personal residential property is outside the proposed incorporation area, does that per
9. With the recent increase in RCMP salaries by an average of 23% across Canada, is the Committee planning to have the consultant revise the policing service sheets and tax notices?