A number of the 124 properties enjoying tax-exempt status in the Township of Langley will likely fail to meet tightened standards to qualify, councillors have been told.
“Some of them don’t comply fully [with the new standards],” Township director of finance Hilary Tsikayi said at the May 6 council meeting that approved the new process.
The revised permissive tax exemption policy and guidelines aim to formalize the application process by replacing a requirement for letters of application with a form listing questions that all interested parties must answer.
This year, the Township granted tax exemptions worth over $660,000 to 49 not-for-profit organizations, 67 churches and private schools, and eight heritage properties.
The exemptions are granted to “organizations which provide services that fulfill some basic need, improve the life of Langley residents and are compatible with or are complementary to services offered by the Township” a staff report to council noted.
The tighter rules will cover the next round of applications for tax exemptions in 2014, which must be filed by July of this year.
Tsikayi said Township staff would work with the charitable and non-profit groups who don’t qualify to help them meet the new guidelines.
If all else fails, some could be “grandfathered” to keep them tax-exempt even though they don’t meet the new rules, she said.
Staff have told council they do not believe that any of the non-compliant properties deliberately tried to evade financial requirements.
