Bay Roberts denies retroactive senior tax discount

By Mark Squibb/July 22, 2022

Bay Roberts council has voted to deny two requests from senior residents for retroactive tax discounts.

“There were two issues that were referred to the executive committee, both dealt with senior residents that missed their seniors discount in past years,” explained CAO Nigel Black during this week’s public council meeting. “There were different reasons for each of them, but in anyway case they were missed in previous years and the property owners were looking to see if they could have council allow the discount for those previous years.”

One missed two years and the other missed eight years.

“What we noted is that the tax notices are sent out to property owners every year, even in cases where the taxes are paid by mortgage, the taxes are still paid by property owners, and the property tax notice explains very clearly that the policies — as we do on social media and the town website each year — as it comes to discounts, so we feel that these have been well explained, well publicised, and we’ve also had exceptions over the years, but generally we do not allow discounts for past years.”

Black noted that financial statements for 2021 had already been closed, and that previous years statements are usually not adjusted unless the Town realizes they have made an error.

“So, based on these facts, the committee recommends discounts be denied for both of these properties for previous years,” said Black.

“The big point here is that the Town had done nothing in error,” said Mayor Walter Yetman. “We have done our due diligence by sending out the tax notices by mail, and social media. So, we did our due diligence in both cases.”

Councilor Dean Franey moved the requests be denied.

“The biggest thing for me is that you have to be responsible to pay your taxes, it’s your responsibility to make sure your taxes are paid,” said Franey. “And if there are discounts there, it’s your responsibility that you get your discount.”

Black, Yetman, and councillor Perry Bowering agreed that residents may have assumed that they were receiving the discount.

Black also noted similar requests have been denied over the years.

The motion to deny the request passed, though not unanimously. Councillors Silas Badcock and Perry Bowering voted against the motion.

“It (the discount) could mean a lot to a senior, but from the Town’s budget, it won’t be missed,” said Bowering.

The seniors discount offered by the Town is five percent off their taxes.

The Town also offers an early bird discount of five percent.