Cranbrook City Council adopted its Annual Taxation Exemption Bylaw on Monday (Oct. 5), approving property tax exemptions for eligible properties owned or leased by charitable and not-for-profit organizations.
The Community Charter automatically exempts certain properties, including those owned by the Province, hospitals, churches and private schools.
For churches, the exemption generally applies only to the building and the land beneath it. Council may grant a permissive exemption for the rest of a church-owned property.
Permissive exemptions can reduce or eliminate municipal property taxes when an eligible organization uses a property to support its mandate.
Eligible uses include social services, supportive housing, arts and culture, emergency rescue, worship, recreation and environmental protection.
The exemptions must be adopted by bylaw and submitted to BC Assessment by Oct. 31 each year, allowing assessments to be adjusted before year-end notices are issued.
Council reviewed the applicant list at a special meeting on Sept. 8 and recommended no changes.
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