Irricana Town council rejected a request for a tax refund on two vacant commercial lots, Nov. 5.
Local businessman Garry Gee made the request, to have the minimum tax levied against his properties returned, saying his annual taxes were unaffordable.
Gee said he is charged a special levy, which amounts to $1,717.84 annually, on top of his regular taxes of $1102.58. For each of his vacant lots, Gee is charged $858.92.
“I understand that the tax was levied in 2000 to encourage development, but it has been in affect now for several years and no new buildings have appeared,” said Gee. “My intention was never to build on this lot, but instead to use it for future parking.”
Gee further added the tax now makes the property less desirable from a business standpoint and would make it tougher for him to sell.
“There is a difference between local business owners who happen to own a small piece of vacant property and absentee developers who speculate on land and flip it when the occasion arises,” Gee noted. “I have owned my small, vacant lot since the 1980s and have been a business owner here for that long as well. I want to have a future here.”
In support of Gee’s request, Councillor Andrew Carr motioned that a full refund should be made. He believed the amount was excessive and that Gee should not be burdened financially with the tax.
The motion was put forth to council, who in turn rejected it.
Mayor Lisa Constantini suggested the minimum tax levy of $400 be paid by Gee on each vacant lot and the remaining balance be returned to him.
Again the motion was defeated. Council decided further review of the matter was needed, but until then, Gee will be required to make the full tax payment.
“This was a hard decision as council’s intention was never to not support our local businesses,” said Constantini. “However, as we learned from Municipal Affairs, the way we handle our minimum tax needs to be addressed and that is going to be looked at for 2013.”
For Carr the decision to not refund Gee was another example of council not supporting the local business community.
“Personally speaking, I have seen how our council has turned a blind eye and scoffed at the requests of business owners in our town,” Carr said. “These requests for support have come from businesses who have been around for over three decades. We need to support our local businesses and this council does not do that.”
Following the meeting Carr made the difficult decision to resign from his post as councillor. (See story on page 17)
Addressing Gee’s tax refund request one local resident suggested that the decision by council was based on Gee’s ethnicity, rather than the actual tax levy issue.
CAO Alvin Melton adamantly denied this claim and explained it is not only a non-issue, but a ridiculous one to even suggest.
“This matter has absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Gee’s race,” he said. “The fact that that would even be brought up is very disappointing. He is a valued member of our community and this issue is about what we are legally obligated to do, not an issue of race.”
