Council here is supporting amendments to Community Improvement Plan (CIP) policies in the Wellington County official plan.
The amendment, which allows the county make loans to municipalities to assist in implementation of CIPs, is intended to “bring their policies more in compliance with ours,” explained Minto CAO Bill White.
He said the county’s involvement stemmed from a request from Centre Wellington for “the county to participate in a major project down there.”
The CAO explained provincial legislation requires municipalities to have a CIP in place in order to provide grants or incentives, such as façade improvement grants, to private businesses.
“What the county is doing with this amendment is they are in the ball game now and that’s good News, really good News,” said White.
Mayor George Bridge, also warden of Wellington County, said, “From the county standpoint this is good News. We’re working toward something that will really benefit all the local tiers as well as the upper tiers.
“It’s just amazing what we might be able to create,” stated Bridge, who suggested eventually funding to improve derelict buildings in municipal downtowns might come from the county.
“I see a real light at the end of the tunnel and I don’t think it’s a train. I think it’s looking good,” said Bridge.
In a written report, White explained the town has not had a business take advantage of tax benefits in its CIP. The benefit would allow the town to forego additional property tax generated from higher assessment after a downtown building is rejuvenated. With the proposed amendment the county can now participate in this benefit.
White used the example of a downtown building paying $3,000 in property tax, of which $1,000 goes to Minto, $1,000 goes to the county and $1,000 goes to the province.
If that downtown building was rejuvenated so that its market value increased to where $4,200 in property tax was payable, both the town and county share ($800) of that increase can be phased in over time. That means instead of taxes going from $3,000 to $4,200 immediately after a renovation, tax increases are phased in over a 10-year period.
White noted it would be ideal if 100% of the property tax increase could be phased in. However, for this to happen a feasibility study would be required, which White suggested may have discouraged municipalities from approaching the province about participating.
Now that the upper tier is involved, White suggested, “perhaps the county could prepare a feasibility study and initiate the process on behalf of all local municipalities.”
Council accepted the report and indicated support for the county’s CIP amendments, provided they maintain flexibility as to boundaries of planning areas and incentives offered in local CIPs.
The proposed county amendment also adds brownfield remediation, improving energy efficiency of buildings and providing affordable housing to the matters which can be considered when identifying CIP areas.
The county is holding a public meeting on the proposal on Dec. 3 at 7pm at Wellington Place in Aboyne.
