YWCA properties in Iqaluit to get property tax relief
2 properties exempted in 2022; additional exemptions will save organization approximately $24,500
Iqaluit city council this week approved additional property tax exemptions for YWCA Agvik Nunavut Society. (File photo)
Two more facilities run by the YWCA Agvik Nunavut Society will be exempted from paying Iqaluit property tax for four years.
City councillors unanimously granted the exemption on Wednesday, based on the fact the organization is a not-for-profit operating “for the common good of city residents.”
YWCA Agvik Nunavut Society is part of an international organization protecting the rights of women. In Iqaluit, it provides transitional housing and supported living to women in need, as well as their children.
The society operates four properties, two of which were already exempted from paying property tax in 2022.
The new exemption will provide just under $24,500 in new tax relief to the society. There is a fifth YWCA property that will house a daycare that is not tax exempted, as it’s not yet operating.
Nunatsiaq News is not reporting the addresses of the YWCA facilities added to the tax exemption in order to protect those who are experiencing or fleeing domestic abuse.
The property tax relief and exemption policy was adopted by the city in 2022, and at the time it caused some confusion. It requires charities, not-for-profits, religious and spiritual establishments to apply for council’s approval every four years to receive partial or total tax relief.
The bylaw also sets a cap of $300,000 per year from the city’s general tax revenue to fund the exemptions.
The current tally of exempted property taxes in Iqaluit amounts to a little more than $123,000.
Too many receiving tax benefits versus too few paying tax. And the pendulum is swinging even further to take from those that work to give to those that don’t.
SOCIALISM !!!!!!!!!!!
I would guess socialism seems like a good idea when you need healthcare.
These breaks are in response to the city removing tax breaks from religious institutions, charities and non-profits in 2022. Now, they’re considering relief on a case by case basis.
Swing that pendulum away from domestic violence victims, Heading for Crisis, and recognize how valuable the YMCA services are to the community compared to their property taxes.
…. considering that you have bunch to pay for … roads being huge one lol , id say no one should be scott free… in order to grow and operate accordingly, you need capital .
poor planning as per usual