In a close recorded vote, Quinte West City Council approved a recommendation to direct staff to develop a heritage tax rebate program with a 40% rebate on property taxes for properties that have been designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
This comes after a request for a program, following a presentation regarding the Wooler Schoolhouse project back in March.
Discussing the recommendation, Councillor Don Kuntze requested a recorded vote saying he was not in favour of implementing the program.
“I know it’s not a lot of money, but our staff already have lots to do, and after our budgeting process in the past couple years, and now going through strong mayor powers with no economic resources coming from the province of Ontario there, and our asset management program, we don’t have any money to give to anything or anybody. We need to hang on to every penny otherwise,” Kuntze said.
Councillor Shelley Stedall, meanwhile, was in favour of the program.
“I think history is really important for our municipality, and for a cost of up to $10,000 if there’s applications – it depends whether or not there are applications – I think it’s worth it that we can at least try to assist some of these agencies and volunteer groups that try to help maintain some of our history,” Stedall told council.
In a recorded vote, council approved the recommendation 7-5.
Those voting in favour of the program were councillors Jim Alyea, Duncan Armstrong, Egerton Boyce, Sally Freeman, Karen Sharpe, Shelley Stedall and Mayor Jim Harrison.
Voting against the recommendation were councillors Zack Card, Michael Kotsovos, Don Kuntze, and Dave O’Neill.
