Penticton Western News, October 09, 2013

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NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN

www.pentictonwesternnews.com

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news

Fomrer MLA Thorpe tapped to chair Revenue Agency board

VOL. 47 ISSUE 81

14

Counting precious salmon in channel

A10 page

WEDNESDAY, October 9, 2013

18

entertainment New Orford Quartet

sports Trench Line helps Vees cuff

honours the greats

Alberni Bulldogs

COUNCIL CLAWS BACK EXEMPTIONS

NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN

Food bank among groups losing preferred tax status and non-profit organizations, ranging from the SS Sicamous Restoration Society to the Royal Canadian Legion. Churches won’t have to reapply for Places of worship in Penticton don’t have to worry about their tax exemption three years — all that is required to mainfrom the city for the next three years, thanks tain their tax exempt status is that someone from the church visits to changes approved city hall annually to by city council Monsign a declaration that day evening. conditions haven’t But a half-dozen changed, and they community groups, are still operating as a some of which were church. previously on the taxHelena Koexempt list, including The receivers of this nanzCoun. was surprised at the Salvation Army Food Bank, didn’t shouldn’t take it as a some of the groups on the list to be denied make the cut this year. given or as a right, it is tax exemption. Mayor Garry Litke “Their working said the city is being actually a gift from the capital is excessive, generous in the tax city to them. over $100,000,” said exemptions, but the Deb Clipperton, acttax breaks aren’t guar— Garry Litke, Mayor ing revenue supervianteed to be there forsor, confirming that ever. the South Okanagan “Not only should Brain Injury Society, we be warning that the Salvation Army’s there could, at some food bank and thrift point, be a reduction stores, along with the of that generosity, but in the meantime (they should) celebrate Senior’s Drop-in Centre had all been in last how generous this city actually is,” said year’s approved group. In 2009, council introduced a new poliLitke. cy to reduce tax exemptions for non-profit “The receivers of this shouldn’t take it as a given or as a right, it is actually a gift from organizations with over $50,000 working capital, but ended up backing away from it the city to them.” Including churches, council approved after the controversial policy drew public municipal tax exemptions totalling concern. $392,855 for a variety of community groups See EXEMPTIONS - Page 3 Steve Kidd

Western News Staff

STOMPIN GOOD TIME — Judy Blackwell does the stomping as her Grape Expectations teammate Brenda Kilasa collects the bounty in a plastic jug during the first round of the grape stomp during the annual Oliver Festival of the Grape, Sunday. For more pictures and story see Pages 12 and 13. Mark Brett/Western News

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