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Summerland churches, trout hatchery given permissive tax exemption for 4 years

Trout hatchery and three churches affected by amendments
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The trout hatchery on Lakeshore Drive in Summerland has been given a permissive tax exemption for the next three years. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland council has given final readings to a pair of bylaws granting permissive tax exemptions.

The bylaws are for Summerland churches and for the trout hatchery.

In August, three churches — Summerland Alliance Church, Julia Street Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church — were granted permissive tax exemptions at varying percentages for 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.

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These three churches are the only places of worship in Summerland with land in excess of what has been deemed to be required to provide services.

At that time, each of the churches was given a tax break on the land considered in excess of the amount used in the delivery of services.

For St. John’s Lutheran Church, the exemption will be 100 per cent. This includes a portion of the church property used for a community garden project.

For Julia Street Church, the reduction is 25 per cent on lands in excess of the amount used in the delivery of services. The church has said the excess land is not usable because of access issues.

For Summerland Alliance Church, the reduction is 100 per cent for most of the excess lands, including the church’s community garden project. However, the house at the front of the church’s property will not receive a tax reduction, as Summerland does not grant tax reductions for residences on church properties.

At the same meeting, a three-year permissive tax exemption was granted to the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. for 2023, 2024 and 2025. This exemption is for the trout hatchery on Lakeshore Drive.

At the Sept. 26 council meeting, Summerland council gave first three readings to the two permissive tax exemption bylaws. The bylaws have now been adopted.

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John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

John Arendt has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
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