BACKGROUND:

Terrace city council has approved 18 out of 23 permissive property tax exemption applications totalling approximately $141,500 annually for the next four years.

Five applications from the Terrace and District Community Service Society (TDCSS) for group homes were denied following changes to the city’s Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw made last April. The value of the denied exemptions for TDCSS amounts to $7,651. TDCSS says they are looking at ways to make up the deficit, including approaching the non-profit’s funder and possibly suspending unfunded programming.

The changes clearly identify short-term, non-rental housing like Ksan Society’s emergency shelter and transition house as eligible for tax exemption. Group homes like the five run by TDCSS would no longer qualify under this new language because they are more long-term and not open to the public, the city says.

Do you agree with the city’s changes to their permissive tax exemption bylaw?

FULL STORY: Council approves $141,500 in property tax exemptions