By Greg Higgins

City seeing interest in downtown tax incentive program

Jul 26, 2017 | 2:00 PM

The new tax incentive program to improve downtown North Battleford has already garnered a lot of interest according to administration.  

The Downtown North Battleford Revitalization Incentive Program was introduced to council at the June 26 meeting and officially adopted at last week’s council meeting. The plan is divided into six different types of development or upgrade projects where land owners can get property tax breaks or rebates for developing the land or renovating buildings to be operational.

The program is working in conjunction with the city’s disincentive plan, where the city will charge a flat rate to vacant buildings downtown for utilities.

N.B. director of planning and development, Jennifer Niesink, said even though it has only been officially available for just over a week, they city has seen a lot of interest.

“People have been contacting the city and we have been distributing packages,” Niesink said. “The packages are ready and available for pickup at City Hall for anyone who is interested.”

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Niesink was quite optimistic when talking about the incentives. She said it was a really great idea and opportunity for property owners. The director said she really hopes the program gets taken advantage of.

“I think it is exciting,” Niesink said. “Downtown is going to be a very different place in five years.”

According to administration, North Battleford will accept applications for a 24-month period and will only grant one application per property for the period of the incentive policy.

Full details of the incentive program are available on the city’s website.

greg.higgins@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow