YORKTON - The Parkland Regional Library has acquired a building in the city to be its headquarters.
And Monday Regional Library Board chair Lani Best appeared before the regular meeting of Yorkton Council asking for an abatement of property taxes on the building located at 362 Sixth Avenue North.
From the tax notice the taxes on the building are $17,116.98, with the request 2024 taxes be refunded and that the building be made exempt from taxation.
A letter to Council circulated Monday noted, “In the nearly 25 years our headquarters has been in the RM of Orkney we have never been charged property taxes,” and added “after checking with all the regional libraries in the province it appears to be the norm that like public libraries, regional headquarter building are exempt from taxes.”
The Parkland Regional Library is owned, governed and operated by the Municipalities in the Region.
While Council was generally in agreement to abate the taxes as requested, they did not make a motion Monday, instead referring the request to city administration to prepare a report to be presented at a future meeting.
Councillor Dustin Brears said while not seeing a problem, a report was simply “due diligence and getting our ducks in-a-row.”
“My comfort level will be higher if we had a report come back,” agreed Coun. Randy Goulden.
The request was left with administration for follow-up.
