Neptune warns cuts without tax exemption
Posted Jan 9, 2013 11:56:54 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Halifax’s most prominent live performance theater says without its annual municipal tax exemption it will have to consider drastic cuts.
On Monday, Neptune Theatre made its case to the city grants committee in an attempt to retain the 100 per cent tax exemption it has received in previous years.
“We are able to give a lot back to the city,” Rob Batherson told Maritime Morning Wednesday. “We are able to spend a million dollars annually on local goods and services. We are able to provide employment income to over 200 residents. We make our case. We don’t take it for granted.”
Without the full exemption for the $450,000 bill, the president of the board said the board will have to consider drastic changes.
“If we took a hit of several hundreds of thousands of dollars it could mean anything from reductions in staff, reductions in the number of plays,” said Batherson. “We would have to consider whether it makes sense to be a property owner and remain in the downtown.”
Batherson said it’s important for the board that the theatre remains debt free and fiscally responsible.
HRM’s Tax Exemption for Non-Profit Organizations program has been under review since 2010. The grants committee is expected to table its recommendation to council in February. This could result in some non-profit organizations seeing changes to how much of their taxes are exempt.
