Domtar is one of four heavy industry companies asking for a property tax reduction.
(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
September 11, 2013 - 4:25 PM
KAMLOOPS – Council faced some hard decisions during budget time earlier this year and they are now hoping the four big players in the heavy industry group will come forward well before budget time to discuss tax rates instead of again waiting until the last minute.
Mayor Peter Milobar says he would like to see industry representatives either at the centre of an entire public information session or to have them come to one of the other budget meetings and voice their concerns alongside other residents.
“Frankly I've given it a lot of thought,” he told council, “and if we're going to do something we should drop one evening in favour of, or encourage them to... come to a meeting and stand up to the mic with their concerns.”
Coun Nancy Bepple said she is happy to see the group come earlier to talk about the tax rates.
"I welcome this group to come earlier,” she said. “Heavy industry is paying same eight per cent every year (and) every other rate class has more people paying into it every year. We're going to have to hash it out at some point.”
While the representatives from Domtar, LaFarge, Arclin and Tolko asked to attend a fall finance planning workshop councillors agreed to have them attend a council meeting as a delegation to further talk about their concerns before budget talks get under way.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2013