Local charities and Churches could get a break
Posted May 18, 2010 06:53:02 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Kitchener city council will consider accommodating charities and churches that are opposed to a new funding model for stormwater services.
Councillors have asked staff to look at giving those groups a 100 percent grant under the condition they educate themselves on how to deal with stormwater.
That exemption would amount to 220,000 dollars in lost revenue but councillor Berry Vrbanovic says they have half a million dollars available for grants right now.
He says anything more would have to be funded through the general tax base.
Council will not consider exempting schools but did ask staff to contact the province to find out whether the city has the authority to charge the school boards for stormwater management.
Both schools and churches in the city have complained about the new rate structure, which will be based on the amount of stormwater each property generates.
Staff have also been asked to consider a residential credit system for 2013 and look at the impact of reducing the level of funding from 13 million dollars to 10 million.
Council is expected to make a decision on the issues at the next corporate and financial services committee on June 7th.
