Port Coquitlam Legion will get a property tax break for the next decade.
On Tuesday, city council approved the branch receiving up to 10 years of permissive tax exemptions as long as it submits its financial documents to the city annually. This year’s tax relief amounts to $44,079, according to city documents.
Coun. Brad West, who put the 10-year motion forward at the city’s finance and intergovernmental (FIG) committee on Sept. 5, said when he looked at those organizations that get ongoing property tax breaks, the Legion was noticeably absent despite its “valuable contributions.”
Under section 224 of the province’s Community Charter, ongoing permissive tax exemptions are granted to churches, hospitals, independent schools and non-profit groups with seniors’ homes built after 1947 but before 1974.
As a result, the Legion Branch 133 has had to apply for three-year exemptions from the city; recently, it applied for another three-year extension to ease its financial burden.
“They have done a lot of hard work to reduce costs and trim down,” Coun. Laura Dupont noted at Tuesday’s meeting before council unanimously gave three readings to the bylaw.
Coun. Darrell Penner said council has talked for many years about ongoing tax exemptions for the Legion. And the longtime councillor said the city is in a better financial position now to help the organization with its complex at 2675 Shaughnessy St.
Mayor Greg Moore said FIG will review this fall possible tax relief for PoCo charities that have land and provide a service to the community.
Other PoCo news:
LOT SPLIT
A Port Coquitlam lot with an older duplex may soon be split to make way for two new single-family homes.
Tuesday, council received a report from Coun. Mike Forrest, chair of the city’s smart growth committee, about a proposal for 3243 and 3245 Fox St. — off Westwood Street — to rezone and subdivide the land.
Mayor Greg Moore suggested council and staff further study the densifying area given its proximity to public transit.
