By the time this letter gets to print I am sure that Penticton council will have rescinded their proposed bylaw to tax churches and non-profit organizations. Good for them, but why did they get themselves into a battle with the few people that provide so much volunteer time and good Christian support for people who are victims of today’s society?

If the churches weren’t there to help the victims of society in our communities, guess who would have to provide that support? Not the federal government nor the provincial government. I can guarantee you that the responsibility would end up with the municipal government to find the money to help them. It has already been tried in the past but municipalities collectively refused to take on the financial and social responsibility.

The issue for me with council’s decision is that they based their decision to tax the churches by wanting to go through their financial records to see what income they had generated and if they exceeded a certain figure ($50,000 I believe), they would have to pay taxes.

The question then has to be asked: if that is the policy council were to use in determining if a church or organization were to pay taxes, then what did council base their decision on to subsidize minor hockey? I don’t recall that they based their decision on the financial status of minor hockey? Is it a profit or non-profit organization, either way shouldn’t they have shown their financial statements to the city?

What about the appeal from Ironman to now double the city’s subsidy? Is council now going to ask for a full audited statement of the Iroman’s books when they consider awarding them an additional $100,000 of in-kind services? This as we all know is definitely a profit-driven organization. Incidentally, in-kind costs are still a line item in the city’s budget, it’s the cost of city labour to assist the setting up of the event.

I for one never did see a signed audited statement from Ironman all the time I was in office and yet they receive substantial amount of registration fees from the athletes plus moneys from the retail sales set up in Okanagan Lake Park. All the city ever received was a statement showing their budget. Don’t get me wrong, Ironman is a great event for the city to host and I have always voted for their grant in the past, but when does council draw the line? Especially when we’re told the city is short of cash, (which is another story I’d like to set the record straight on especially the cost of the events centre). Ironically, I don’t believe minor hockey or Ironman pay taxes to the city.

For council to treat churches and non-profit organizations different than (any) profit-driven business shows lack of due process and sound policy, which has caused a lot of good Christian-minded people a lot of unfortunate and unnecessary stress.

Jake Kimberley

Penticton