Places of worship and non-profit groups are going to have slightly different hoops to jump through under a new permissive tax exemption policy implemented by District of Clearwater council last Tuesday.
Under the new policy, places of worship, private school and hospitals will have their property tax exempt status given for a five-year cycle. This will allow those groups some stability.
Non-profit groups, on the other hand, will have their property tax exempt status for only three years. This will give each council the opportunity to consider these exmpetions within their three-year term.
The previous policy has been in place for four years. The changes follow a review of similar policies in other municipalities.
Places of worship in the District of Clearwater to receive permissive tax exemptions for the 2012 tax year were St. James Catholic Church, Clearwater New Life Assembly, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sikh Temple, Clearwater Community Baptist Church, Clearwater Christian Church and Clearwater BC Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Total value of municipal tax exemptions for places of worship was about $1,300.
Not for profit groups with tax exemptions were Evergreen Acres, Royal Canadian Legion, Yellowhead Community Services Society, Freshwater Fisheries, Clearwater Ski Club, Clearwater Elks Lodge, and Central North Thompson Rod and Gun Club. Municipal taxes exempted for non-profits totaled nearly $23,000.