Organizations which no longer receive a full grant from the city to pay their property tax will likely know by next week exactly how much they will be paying the city this year.

At Monday’s council meeting, Valerie Anderson, the acting director of corporate services, brought forward a recommendation that would see the city provide grants to 22 local non-profits to help with property tax bills.

The proposal follows a change in council’s granting policy made last January which capped the municipal charges grant and established new criteria for groups seeking grants.

Under the updated policy, eligible groups with assets and revenues of $500,000 and under may be eligible for a grant of up to the full taxes owed.

Meanwhile, those with revenues and assets greater than $500,000 and under $1 million may be granted the full tax amount owed for the first $500,000 worth of assets and 50 per cent of the tax bill on the remainder.

Finally, those with revenues and assets of $1 million and more may receive a grant of 50 per cent of taxes owed.

In most cases, city staff recommended a grant below the maximum amount in an effort to stay within a $140,000 budget.

Most grants were reduced just over 25 per cent of what they were eligible for to keep within budget.

“Consistent with policy, administration’s recommendation does not exceed the criteria established by council,” Anderson stated in her report.

Softball Yukon and the Yukon Historical and Museums Association (YHMA) are the only organizations recommended to get the full amount they are eligible for.

Softball Yukon would receive the largest grant at $21,724.27 for both 2015 property taxes ($9,724.27) and water and sewer utilities ($12,000), with its lease specifying that it is exempt from taxes and utilities.

Similarly, YHMA’s lease specifies it is exempt from its tax bill, which totals $1,977.24 this year.

Biathlon Yukon’s lease states the city will make “best efforts” to provide a grant for taxes, so it’s recommended it receive a grant of $3,247.11 to help with its tax bill of $3,301.63.

A “best effort” clause is also included in the lease the city renewed last year with the Downtown Urban Gardeners for its location near the clay cliffs.

This marks the first year the group will be subject to property taxes as the land had never been assessed by the territory until now.

It’s recommended the group receive $628 to help with both its $419.50 property tax bill and $465 utility bill for the year.

It and Softball Yukon are the only organizations to be recommended funding on their utilities.

The smallest grant amount is proposed to go to Habitat for Humanity at $344.21 on a property tax bill amounting to $484.35 for a lot it is developing on Eldorado Drive.

Under the recommendation, it would also receive another grant of $413.61 for the $582 in taxes on another site it is developing next door.

Meanwhile, the MacBride Museum of Yukon History would receive a grant of $18,911.67 on its $26,611.33 tax bill if the recommendations go ahead as planned.

The museum has been the focus of debate around the policy in recent weeks.

While council had confirmed in a vote last week the policy would apply to museums, at last night’s meeting, Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu said she plans to bring forward a motion that would exempt museums, which have title to land, from paying property tax.

At this point, MacBride is the only museum to hold title, but Curteanu said this would ensure the same treatment of museums in the future (see separate story, p. 5).

Other organizations that would receive a partial grant for their property tax include Blood Ties, Challenge, Food Bank Society of Whitehorse, Golden Age Society, Guild Society, Hospice Yukon, Humane Society Yukon, Kaushee’s Place, Learning Disabilities Association of the Yukon, Many Rivers, Salvation Army, Skookum Jim Friendship Centre, Teegatha Oh Zheh, Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre, Whitehorse Rifle/Pistol Club, Whitehorse Aboriginal Women’s Circle and the Yukon Learn Society.

Coun. Betty Irwin is the executive director of the animal shelter, run by the humane society.

She declared a conflict and left council chambers during discussion on the grants.

Addressing questions from council members, Anderson noted there were about three more applications for the grant this year.

That’s possibly a reflection of the expanded awareness of the changes and the consultation that was done on the policy.

A total of $197,000 was sought in grants this year, compared to the $172,000 requested in 2014.

Curteanu was quick to state her concern that more organizations will apply for the grants in the years to come.

Mayor Dan Curtis agreed, noting the need for a council and senior management meeting to discuss the issue.

Council is set to vote on this year’s grants at its meeting next week.