The 2014 list of organizations receiving permissive tax exemptions has been set.
Council passed the first three readings of the associated bylaws relieving $1.36 million in property tax for eligible applicants Tuesday afternoon.
Permissive tax exemptions are granted to non-profit organizations, places of public worship, private schools and municipal tenants.
New this year to the list are two AimHi properties, the Bible Missionary Church and a Gillett Street Catholic church, bringing the total amount of approved applicants to 117.
The 2013 exemptions were worth more than $1.2 million, which was 1.54 per cent of the annual tax levy. The 2014 exemptions are worth an estimated 1.63 per cent of the levy (based on the 2013 assessment).
Council needs to have its tax exemption bylaws in place by Oct. 31 for the upcoming year as per the Community Charter, leaving the next scheduled council meeting of Oct. 23 for final reading.
This means it's too late for any groups who were turned down for applications to appeal the decision, explained corporate services director Kathleen Soltis.
"I think it's really important to acknowledge other funding bodies look at levels of support local agencies get from their local government," said Coun. Murry Krause.
