Exempt no more? 1995 NPLP pact under fire as City objects to remote exemptions
Struck to fund the North Peace Leisure Pool in 1995, a Peace River Regional District Bylaw, which spared remote residents from taxation has come under fire, when Fort St. John City Council voiced their concerns over some $444.5 million in assessed value being exempted from taxation to pay for the existing facility.
Exempting 848 Class 1 Residential properties in Zone 2 of Electoral Area B from taxation would put a burden on other taxpayers in the Regional District, Fort St. John director and mayor Lilia Hansen told both the Peace River Regional District board of directors and members of City Council recently.
When the North Peace Leisure Pool Service Boundary Amendment Bylaw came before the PRRD board for an update on October 16, Hansen argued against passing the amendment, stating that she was not in favour of exempting any additional properties.
“While I understand the direction was established by a previous board, prior to many of us being elected, today’s board, we have to look at our finances through a current lens,” she said.
“Many residents living and working in the proposed exemption area do benefit from services offered because we have the leisure pool. It’s part of our attraction-retention strategy of skilled professionals. Exempting these properties would shift a greater tax burden onto those who can’t contribute, which I believe is neither fair nor sustainable.”
Area B Director Reid Graham said that these properties are exempt for a reason, because they’re so remote that the owners don’t use the facility.