YORKTON - The Yorkton Kinsmen Club appeared before Yorkton Council Feb. 26, requesting the City of Yorkton would forgo property taxes on their new home.
The club has purchased the former Grace Presbyterian Church at 66 Park Street, and will be remodeling it into a clubhouse they hope to occupy by September.
The building will also be utilized by the Kinettes and by Yorkton Minor Hockey.
Ashley Stradeski – Director of Finance with the city told the regular meeting of Council this Monday, “A council may exempt any property from taxation in whole or in part with respect to a financial year.”
In addition, Council can abate taxes for any property if they so choose, and this can be done by bylaw in our annual tax policy bylaw, he added.
In a report to Council it was detailed, “In the past, Administration’s recommendation and Council’s agreed upon stance has been a consistent “no” to nearly any request for abatement of taxes. The reasons for this are numerous; Council did not want to financially impact the City, there were worries about fairness amongst other deserving groups that haven’t come forward, and also that it could set a precedent, to name a few. These are all valid and have given Council the ability to consistently stand by the “no” to most abatement requests.”
It was estimated municipal portion of tax of around $6,000.
Councillor Quinn Haider would move to not offer a tax reduction.
“This breaks my heart,” he said in moving as this is an ad hoc decision to be made by Council, the immediate financial impact is limited to this one property. He added he recognized all the good work the Kinsmen do. “. . . They do amazing, amazing work, but it a slippery slope (to set a precedent).”
“I think I’m on the same page as you Quinn . . . because it’s a slippery slope,” said Coun. Dustin Brears.
Coun. Chris Wyatt agreed asking “what does it lead too,” if a tax break was given.
The motion to not provide a tax abatement passed.
