Belleville Councillor Paul Carr, September 11, 2017 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Belleville city council has taken a two-step move toward any changes to property tax rebates for vacant commercial or industrial property.
Council had before it Monday night a staff report with four options on whether to continue, eliminate, or phase out the vacant property tax rebates.
Currently, property owners are eligible for a 30% tax rebate on vacant commercial space or 35% on industrial vacancies.
Chamber of Commerce CEO Jill Raycroft told council that commercial taxes for the city amount to $23 million while the rebate stood at $345,000.
Councillor Paul Carr presented a motion calling for elimination of the rebate over the next two years.
Carr said many owners are not “aggressively marketing ” their properties.
Councillor Mitch Panciuk said the businesses are being subsidized on the backs of residential taxpayers.
In the end, council called for a report from the city treasurer before having a final vote on the issue.
