Town says no to deed transfer tax

BY JENNIFER HOEGG

jhoegg@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Kentville council voted down the proposed Deed Transfer Tax Bylaw 5-2 in front of a large audience June 15.

The decision came after councillors heard the results of a recent survey showing 52 per cent of residents and 76 per cent of businesses opposed the proposed new tax.

The vote had been delayed twice to gather input from town residents, including public meetings and a survey of residents’ opinions. At a June 16 public meeting, council received more than 20 oral and written submissions against the new tax.

A Nova Insights’ survey presented respondents with two options: a 1.5 per cent deed transfer tax on home purchases and a two-cent per $100 of current assessment value; or a seven-cent tax increase with no deed transfer tax.

Forty-eight per cent of residents and 74 per cent of businesses preferred the option of a property tax hike.

Won’t support deed transfer tax: Corkum

Before the council vote, Mayor David Corkum said, “I will not support the implementation of a deed transfer tax. As far as the local municipalities go, I have spoken to the town of Windsor and the mayor says (their deed transfer tax) is hurting development in his town. The last thing we want is to have development turn away at our door and go somewhere else.”

Councillors Nola Folker-Hill, Eric Bolland, Tony Bentley and Deputy Mayor Bernie Cooper joined Corkum in rejecting the bylaw. “The majority are against the deed transfer tax,” Bentley said. “I’ve been against this from day one, and I’m still against it.”

Pearl, Boyd speak out in favour

Mark Pearl and Bill Boyd voted for the transfer tax. Pearl said, despite the survey results, it was “council’s job to sort through the information and make the best decision. “Feedback given to me from property owners in Kentville say they can’t tolerate a property tax increase. Our taxpayers do not want this burden.”

Boyd added, “It’s a Catch-22. It is a nasty tax. It is an unfair tax. At the same time, I listen to residents who do not want spiking in the tax rate. “At the end of the day, you have to choose between two evils and I support the deed transfer tax.”

The Kentville research firm surveyed 345 residents by phone between June 25 and July 5 and conducted a web survey of 46 businesses between June 27 and July 6. Residential results are accurate within plus or minus 5.3 percentage points 19 times out of 20. Business results are accurate within plus or minus 11.2 percentage points 19 times out of 20.