The City of Campbell River has restored a permissive tax exemption for the Campbell River Art Gallery after it pulled the exemption last fall.
In September, Campbell River council approved a motion labelling the art gallery a “bad neighbour” because homeless people were gathering on the property and sleeping there overnight.
The motion pulled the gallery’s tax exemption, worth around $10,000.
At the time, Coun. Ron Kerr said the gallery was having an “extremely detrimental effect” on downtown businesses and the surrounding area.
The gallery, however, said the blame was misplaced, and that there was little it could do to stop the issue.
At a meeting Thursday, Campbell River council approved a permissive tax exemption for the Campbell River Art Gallery, which will be funded through the council contingency fund.
“The City’s Permissive Tax Exemption Program assists many local organizations with the ongoing operation of community arts, culture, recreation, social, emergency, and spiritual facilities, and programs that greatly enhance the quality of life in the community,” said the city in a statement Friday morning.
With files from CHEK’s Dean Stoltz
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