South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society past-president James Palanio told city council the society should be put back on the tax exemption list for the service it provides to the community.
(SHANNON QUESNEL / iNFOnews.ca)
October 22, 2013 - 5:13 PM
PENTICTON - Christmas came before Halloween this year for three not-for-profits who have been put back on the taxman's "good" list.
Property owned by the Senior's Drop-In Centre, the South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society and two properties owned by the Salvation Army were put back on the tax exemption roll at Monday's council meeting. They were removed from the list earlier this month because they had working capital higher than $100,000.
Representatives from the three groups presented their case before city leadership.
Salvation Army Major Dale Sobool said his organization brings service to the community and hoped it puts "in a lot more than we are taking out."
The Salvation Army church was and is still exempt from paying taxes as a place of worship but the organization's food bank and thrift store are separate buildings. Sobool pointed out the organization is a victim of its success.
"We are only bigger than (the church) because the demand is bigger," he said. "Food banks are a growing need in our community."
If anyone deserves to get tax exemption it's the Salvation Army, Coun. John Vassilaki said.
"We are trying to give a hand up and not a hand out," Sobool explained.
The Senior's Drop-In Centre also argued its case. It provides recreation and social settings for 600 of its members, has five sit-down dinners a year, runs a blood bank and flu clinic and hosts city byelections.
To contact a reporter for this story, to send photos or videos, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca, call 250-488-3065, tweet @shannonquesnel1 or @InfoNewsPentict
News from © iNFOnews, 2013