Mayor Cook hopes for adoption of new "Industrial Tax Revitalization Bylaw" later this spring

From the Rush (local radio station):

THE CITY OF WILLIAMS LAKE IS MAKING A SERIOUS EFFORT TO ATTRACT JOBS AND INDUSTRY.

IN FACT THEY’RE IN THE PROCESS OF DRAFTING AN INDUSTRIAL REVITALIZATION TAX EXEMPTION BYLAW.

UNDER THE PROPOSED BYLAW, OWNERS THAT INITIATE NEW DEVELOPMENTS ON THEIR PROPERTY COULD APPLY TO RECEIVE MUNICIPAL TAX EXEMPTIONS.

THE LEVEL OF THOSE EXEMPTIONS WOULD BE DETERMINED BY FACTORS SUCH AS WHETHER THE NEW PROPERTY INVESTMENT INCREASES THE LOCAL TAX BASE OR CREATES JOBS.

MAYOR KERRY COOK SAYS SHE’S EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW BYLAW AND THE BUSINESS AND JOBS SHE HOPES IT WILL BRING.

COOK HOPES THE BYLAW WILL BE PASSED SOMETIME THIS SPRING.

Editor's Note - When Quesnel Council adopted a similar bylaw on September 12th, 2005 which then allowed for a 10 year industrial tax revitalization agreement with West Fraser Mills for 2006-2016, Quesnel City Councillor Sushil Thapar expressed his dissatisfaction with this agreement and stated that local taxpayers' should not be "subsidizing" profitable corporations.  Mr. Thapar's opinion was then backed up by local residents as well, via letters' to the editor.  It will be interesting to see if residents' of Williams Lake feel the same, like Quesnel residents, once a industrial tax revitalization exemption bylaw is in place and WL Council signs its first industrial tax  revitalization exemption agreement

SBF

UPDATE - over at Williams Lake Tribune's website - the following comments were left with regard to a industrial tax revitalization exemption bylaw for the City of Williams Lake:

1) This is a very good decision by council. Williams Lake is an ambitious, forward thinking community in many ways and a good family oriented place with many opportunities in education for all ages including the Thompson River University campus and we just need a chance to regain our strength in the labor force to once again become the "Hub of the Cariboo"

2) It is a good idea just as long as Williams lake City Council doesn't decide to make Williams Lake residents pay for the difference in lost tax revenue through increased property/services taxes, WL City Council can give a business or corporation tax breaks all they want but there is no guarantee
that a business or corporation will use that tax break to employ more people businesses and corporations are given huge tax breaks and subsidies all the time but they still look for ways to cut employees so they can maximize profits