Belleville city hall April 10, 2017 (File photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Belleville Councillors are expected to ask staff to reach out to city property owners, over a plan to remove or scale back the vacancy rebate program Tuesday.
The program was implemented in the late 1990s and gives owners an option to apply for a rebate on taxes paid on properties that were empty for more than 90 straight days of the year.
After being mandated by the province for many years, municipalities are now being given the flexibility to adjust the plan to specific community needs, but must consult the business community first.
Staff say eliminating the rebate would hopefully help to fill some vacancies and ease the tax burden, as those rebates are shouldered by taxpayers.
Further to a letter being sent out from the city, the Downtown Business Improvement Area will be reaching out for feedback and a public meeting will be held in June.
Council meets tomorrow(Tuesday) afternoon at 4 o’clock at city hall.
