Prince George’s Standing Committee on Finance and Audit approved more than $2.2 million in recommendations for permissive tax exemptions at its Wednesday, Aug. 20 meeting in council chambers on the second floor of city hall.
Local governments like municipalities and regional districts can give tax exemptions to certain types of properties like places of worship and non-profits as a way of supporting their operations.
Director of finance and IT services Kris Dalio explained that city staff try to align the four-year durations of tax exemptions with each of council’s four-year terms.
However, owners of exempt properties still need to file applications each year to affirm that they still own the land and are using it for the approved use.
“The total estimated value of our exemptions is $2.2 million or 1.47 per cent of the tax that we need,” Dalio said. “We don’t actually forgo the money. What happens is that the rest of the tax class that they belong to chips in a little bit more in order to pay their taxes. So the city collects the same amount of money no matter what.
There are three categories of exemptions that the committee discussed: non-profit organizations, places of worship and municipal tenants.
Eight applications under the non-profit section were recommended for denial by administration.
The first was from Providence Living Society, for the seniors’ housing facility being built in College Heights on 6500 Southridge Ave.
Dalio said there were two issues with the application. The first is that the facility isn’t operational yet and the second is that seniors’ housing doesn’t qualify for an exemption under the policy.
As the land belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince George, chair Coun. Cori Ramsay wondered if the land was already exempt from taxes due to belonging to a place of worship.
The second application in the non-profit section was for Riverbend Community, a seniors’ facility at 1444 20th Ave. Again, Dalio said that seniors’ housing does not qualify under the policy and the facility has already received a revitalization tax exemption worth around $61,000.
The third application was for the BC SPCA’s facility at 1909 Queensway, the home of the organization’s spay and neuter program.
The policy, Dalio explained doesn’t allow for exemptions for buildings with commercial activity that compete with for-profit businesses in the city, like other veterinarian practices around town.
The Aboriginal Housing Society applied for three exemptions for various housing facilities at 1362 Central St. East, 1975 Bowser Ave. and 1811 Spruce St.
For the first property, administration said that low-income and subsidized housing do not qualify for exemptions.
For the latter two, administration explained that they both did not qualify and revitalization tax exemptions have already been provided.
A fourth Aboriginal Housing Society application was not considered as the organization does not pay property tax on the property at 1965 17th Ave. because it is class 3 supportive housing.
Another supportive housing facility at 1915 Third Ave. owned by AWAC also had an application not considered because it is already exempt.
Under the places of worship category, two changes were noted by administration.
Timbers Community Church purchased Faith Alive Fellowship’s church at 3400 Hart Highway. Timbers’ previous home at 1553-1557 Third Ave. will no longer be exempted and an exemption will be granted for the Hart Highway Church.
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church at 3590 Dufferin Ave. was sold in June to Carrier Sekani Family Services. The latter organization had not applied for an exemption when the meeting was held and so it will not receive one for 2026.
There were two applications for exemptions under the municipal tenants category.
“Municipal tenants who meet the criteria of the permissive tax exemption program can apply if the property taxes are not already a financial consideration as part of their lease agreement,” administration’s report said.
The YMCA asked for an exemption for its daycare at 1075 Sixth Ave. and Tsul Choi Daycare Centre at 6776 Dagg Rd. wanted its property exempted.
Administration recommended that both applications be denied, as the policy “does not allow exemptions for buildings with commercial activity that are in competition with for-profit businesses.”
Coun. Ron Polillo recused himself from the committee’s discussion over exemption applications submitted by AiMHi, where he works, and the Prince George Italian Club, where he is a member of the executive.
AiMHi has 37 properties on administration’s recommended list of exemptions worth a collective $135,357.
The organization sold one of its properties at 2440 Abbott Cres. and it will be removed from the list of exemptions. Also removed from the list is the sold Elks Community Hall at 663 Douglas St.
Other large beneficiaries from the last of permissive tax exemptions include:
- Prince George Golf and Curling Club with two exemptions worth $233,790,
- The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of British Columbia with six exemptions worth $155,679,
- Prince George Native Friendship Centre with eight exemptions worth $143,979 and
- Carrier Sekani Family Services with eight exemptions worth $103,353.
In total, the recommendations include $1.316 million in non-profit exemptions, $313,560 in exemptions for places of worship and $571,313 in exemptions for municipal tenants.
The recommendations will now be forwarded to city council for final approval at one of its future meetings.
