BARRHEAD-Town of Barrhead residents might have a few more options when it comes time to pay their 2020 property taxes.
During their March 9 meeting, councillors instructed administration to draft a Property Tax Installment Plan Bylaw.
The draft bylaw is similar to the one passed last year to help ease resident's burden in paying their property tax due to unforeseen financial issues brought about because of the pandemic.
When passed the bylaw would allow residents who are currently on the municipality's tax payment instalment plan to defer their payments for up to three months. The proposed bylaw also gives those residents who are not on the town's monthly installment plan the option to opt-in as long as they do so by July 31.
The bylaw would also give non-residential (businesses) the ability to amortize their 2020 and their estimated 2021 property taxes as part of the instalment plan. It should be noted, that for all of these options, accounts must be paid in full by Dec. 31, 2021.
Coun. Ty Assaf said he was pleased with how successful last year's bylaw was.
According to the information package, 15 residential and four additional non-residential signed up for the monthly installment plan, including one business account that enrolled in the 17-month payment plan. About 25 per cent of all property tax accounts have taken advantage of the monthly tax installment plan.
"I know, in these difficult times that we are going through, this plan is a real financial and emotional relief to many of our residents and I am glad administration was able to offer it again this year," he said.
Tax-exempt organizations
Councillors also approved a list of nine not-for-profit organizations and 13 properties that will be on its property tax exemption list for the next three years.
"Not-for-profit organizations have the ability for a property tax exemption under provincial legislation," said CAO Edward LeBlanc.
To be granted tax-exempt status, LeBlanc said, an organization must make an application to the municipality.
From there, the applications are then vetted by the town's assessor to determine if they comply with the requirements under the Municipal Government Act's Community Property Tax Exemption Regulation.
LeBlanc said even if the organizations meet the requirements, the final decision remains with council.
Councillors also have the option of granting the exemption for one or three years. However, LeBlanc suggested if council deemed the organizations worthy, it would be more efficient to grant the exemption for three years, as the majority of the organizations and their associated properties have been in operation for several years and have not changed their status.
Coun. Leslie Penny noted that several organizations did not own the properties and therefore are not responsible for paying property tax.
"In many rental agreements, there is something that is called triple debt-where the renter is responsible for not only the rent but taxes, maintenance and utilities," LeBlanc said. "In these cases, the town informs the property owner and the applicant of the tax exemption and it is up to both parties to come to an arrangement."
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
