Meadow Lake City Council has granted five local non-profits with a tax break in 2022. (Elliott Knopp/meadowlakeNOW Staff)
Tax Exemptions

Meadow Lake City Council approves 2022 Charitable Tax Exemptions

Sep 28, 2021 | 5:41 PM

The City of Meadow Lake has agreed to approve five applications from non-profit organizations for a charitable tax exemption.

The organizations granted the tax benefit provide the community with service and resources that improve the well-being of the community through childcare, recreational activities not provided by other organizations within the city and programs addressing hunger and food security.

Meadow Lake Outreach Ministries (MLOM), Evangelical Free Church of Meadow Lake (EFC), Meadow Lake Curling Club (MLCC) and Meadow Lake and Area Early Childhood Services (ECS) are the recipients of the exemption this year.

In Monday’s council meeting, Mayor Merlin Seymour stated these benefits aren’t new to the community, but passing the requests earlier will allow the organizations to get ahead of planning.

“This is something we have done in the past,” he said. “What we’re trying to do with this is have it approved prior to year end so everyone knows what’s going on before January starts.”

City manager Diana Burton explained this item will be brought back to council’s attention in the spring when the city passes tax rates.

“There will be a tax exemption bylaw presented that will include whichever properties are approved exemptions by a bylaw,” she said.

The bylaw will be conditional on the renewal of licenses by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education for MLOM and ECS.

MLOM will receive two exemptions for services included in the application, the Door of Hope and Tiny Treasures Child & Family Service Centre. The organization was awarded for the services supporting collaborative strategies to address hunger and food security while enhancing the physical, mental and social well-being of residents.

ECS received the write-off as it is an early intervention program offering home visits and support families in the areas of parenting and child development.

EFC’s tax break was approved for the Turning Point Youth Centre as the program enhances the physical, mental and social well-being of residents with additional consideration for supporting the vulnerable population.

MLCC was awarded the benefit for providing a sport not provided by another organization in the city.

Using the 2021 assessment and taxation rates, the city will forgo a total of more than $18,000 in municipal revenue from the five combined applications.

The exemptions are included in the 2022 draft budget.

elliott.knopp@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ElliottKnopp

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