Monday, September 26, 2011

City Grants Churches, Charities Property Tax Exemption


Vernon city council is giving dozens of churches, charities and social agencies full or partial property tax exemptions. This is a yearly occurence. Council's financial watchdog Bob Spiers says it amounted to approximately 560-thousand dollars last year and he expects a similar figure this year. The bylaw was given third reading Monday. Meanwhile Spiers says he will pick up his nomination papers for another run at council this week. Spiers says he would like a new council to consider a full audit of the City's expenditures. Spiers tried and failed to convince the current council to approve a financial audit however he hopes to be more persuasive next time.
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Watchdog Sets Sights on Second Term 

by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM  Monday, 26 September 2011 18:13

All but one of the current Vernon council members intend to seek re-election in November.  Bob Spiers has been 'on the fence', but admitted Monday, he's leaning towards running for a second term.  "I'll probably be picking up my nomination papers sometime this week."  Spiers, council's financial watchdog,  says he would still like to pursue the idea of a core review where all aspects of city spending would be scrutinized, something the current council rejected.  Buffy Baumbrough is the lone council member who doesn't plan to seek re-election. The official nomination period runs from October 4 to the 14th.

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