Two places of worship that have received tax breaks from the city of Coquitlam will soon have to pay up.
This week, the city released a document showing the Sisters of Immaculate Heart and the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church have residences on their respective properties, which is not allowed under the city's permissive tax exemption bylaw.
As a result, the Sisters will be billed $1,119 next year and Good Shepherd $400. And because of the new municipal fees, those organizations will also be subject to corresponding taxes from other authorities such as TransLink.
Sheena MacLeod, Coquitlam's manager of financial services, told The Tri-City News city staff are now reviewing all 50 properties that are currently eligible for tax exemptions and results of that review should go to council in the spring.
And if changes are made to tax exemptions, they wouldn't apply until 2013.
Last September, after rejecting exemption requests from three groups with facilities in Coquitlam, council told city managers it wanted to re-think how the city grants tax breaks, saying taxpayers shoulder too much of the burden.
As well, council voiced concern over the list's inconsistencies and the growing cost downloads by senior governments (i.e., groups with provincially run care homes were applying for permissive tax exemptions).
Next year, the 50 properties up for exemptions - including 30 churches - are expected to get nearly $1 million in tax relief combined (city council on Monday gave three readings to the bylaw) - translating to about 1% of the tax base.
Among the exempted recipients are: the Burquitlam Care Society (Burquitlam Lions Centre); Burquitlam Senior Housing Society (L.J. Christmas Manor); Société du Foyer Maillard (Foyer Maillard); Earl Haig Society (Earl Haig Retirement Residence); Colony Farm Community Garden Society; Nature Trust of BC (for recreational lands at Addington Point and Siwash Island); Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 263; Community Living Society; and Howe Sound Services Society (Windsong House).
Under the province's Community Charter, municipal councils have until Oct. 31 to pass a bylaw to exempt properties for the following year.
A copy of the proposed 2012 annual taxation exemption bylaw can be inspected at Coquitlam city hall from Oct. 11 to 14.
