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City resolves CMHA-Battlefords tax exemption issue

Regarding the eight-unit rental housing project at 1942 Kramer Place
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The issue of whether a housing project of Canadian Mental Health Association - Battlefords Branch is tax-emempt finally appears to be resolved.

Council granted a tax exemption to the eight-unit rental housing project at 1942 Kramer Place. That is the location for Independence Commons, a rental housing project for those with mental health and additions issues.

The city has agreed to grant an abatement to municipal property taxes and education levies for the property 2021, and also that municipal property taxes and educational levies be granted exemption for subsequent years. This is subject to CMHA maintaining ongoing mental health services on location there for one to four hours per day.

The resolution was brought in to resolve uncertainty about whether the property was exempt from municipal taxes under the wording of the Cities Act.

That legislation explicitly grants an exemption to CMHA for buildings and lands that are used and occupied by the organization and its branches. But there was concern the Kramer Place property might strictly be interpreted as rental property and fall outside the exemption.

CMHA’s Jane Zielke de Montbrun went to council last month, where she emphasized the project was not strictly a rental property as it also offered supports, wellness programs and skills-building to those living there.

The indication from administration and from Mayor David Gillan on Monday is they have since found a provision of the Health Act that overrides the Cities Act to ensure the Kramer Place property is exempt, due to the treatment services offered.

In any case, council indicated it was in favor of granting an exemption as the appropriate way to address the issue.