Council gives initial readings to permissive tax bylaws

City of Powell River council passed the first three readings of four permissive tax bylaws at the October 18 meeting.

The bylaws provide a total of $232,526 in tax exemptions for 2013. The total in 2012 was $236,663.

The Community Charter lists two classes of exemptions, statutory and permissive. Examples of statutory exemptions, which receive 100 per cent exemption, include public schools and grounds, churches and the land underneath the church, hospitals and public libraries.

Permissive tax exemptions are allowed for a variety of not-for-profit organizations and for some properties that are held by organizations that receive statutory exemptions, such as church halls or land surrounding a church.

Permissive tax exemptions are at the discretion of city council and may range from zero to 100 per cent.

The city must adopt the bylaws by October 31 each year. It has scheduled a special council meeting at 9 am on Thursday, October 25, at which the bylaws are expected to be adopted.