Owen Sound City Council wants tax breaks for heritage buildings.
City Council has agreed with the principle of providing tax breaks for heritage buildings in Owen Sound, but still wants to iron out a few details.
The Community Planning and Heritage Committee will work with staff to develop a report describing how the program might work.
The provincial program allows municipalities to give owners tax rebates of 10 to 40 percent, if their building is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
Twenty three Owen Sound properties are eligible for the rebate.
Councillor Arlene Wright says the rebate would encourage owners to maintain their building, but feels 40 percent is unreasonable.
Wright added, a ten percent cut would cost the city $ 7, 500 for all twenty three buildings, while 40 percent would cost roughly $30,000.
The provincial government would match the tax break, taking equal funds from the city’s education portion.
The Community Planning and Heritage Committee would not start the program until at least 2010.
