HomeMy WebLinkAboutFIN-2021-47 - Applications for Cancellation, Refund, Reduction of Taxes
REPORT TO:Council
DATE OF MEETING: September 20, 2021
SUBMITTED BY: Saleh Saleh, Director of Revenue, 519-741-2200 ext. 7346
PREPARED BY: Feras Abdulhadi, Tax Specialist, 519-741-2200 ext. 7440
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: September 1, 2021
REPORT NO.: FIN-2021-47
SUBJECT: Applications for Cancellation, Refund, Reduction of Taxes
th
September 20 Hearing
RECOMMENDATION:
That the applications to City Council for write-off, cancellation, reduction, or refund
of taxes totalling $735,224.27 as attached to Financial Services Department report
FIN-2021-47, be approved, pursuant to Sections 354 and 357 of the Municipal Act, S.O.
.
BACKGROUND:
Sections 354 and 357 of the Act allow the local municipality to write-off, cancel, reduce or
refund all or part of taxes levied on land in the year in respect of which the application is
made for certain specific reasons as laid out in these sections of the Act.
REPORT:
Fifty-nine applications for adjustment of taxes under Sections 354 and 357 of the Act were
processed, resulting in a net reduction of taxes in the amount of $735,224.27. The required
notices to the affected parties were sent out in accordance with the relevant legislation.
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The following table shows a breakdown of the reduction in taxes in this report by the
applicable reason.
Relevant
Total Taxes
subsection of the Reason for Application
Reduced
Act
357(1)(a)Ceases to be liable for tax at rate it was taxed$12,090.17
357(1)(c) Became exempt $236,657.06
357(1)(d)(i) Razed by fire, demolition or otherwise $14,566.63
357(1)(d)(ii) Damaged and substantially unusable $7,310.66
357(1)(f) Gross or manifest clerical/factual error (in the assessment roll) $2,174.26
357(1)(g) Repairs/renovations preventing normal use $462,425.49
Total $735,224.27
In addition to the above, fourteen applications were received under Section 357(1)(d)(ii)
with the COVID-19 pandemic provided as the reason. In accordance with the legislation
and consistent with a letter dated April 26, 2021 issued by the Ontario Ministry of Finance,
these applications have been denied on the basis that the properties were not physically
damaged.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
through the delivery of core service.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The tax reductions are shared with the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and the School
Boards. The net effect to the City of Kitchener is a reduction in current year revenue,
including a reduction in City levies of $164,470.70 and a reduction in BIA levies of
$15,841.88, both of which are accommodated within the 2021 Operating Budget. The City
-offs, which carries a net
revenue budget of $1.1 million annually.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM
the council meeting.
The required notices to the affected parties were sent out in accordance with the relevant
legislation under Section 357 of the Act.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jonathan Lautenbach, Chief Financial Officer.