Province proposes vacant property levy for municipalities

Amendments will give local governments new tools to address vacant properties, encourage housing development and support downtown revitalization

The government has introduced amendments to the Local Governance Act.

If passed, it will give local governments the power to create and enforce a vacant property tax.

“Local governments have been asking for more tools to help put vacant properties to better use,” said Local Government Minister Aaron Kennedy, who is also minister responsible for Service New Brunswick.

“This legislation will give them the option to create a vacant property levy in their communities. We want to see more empty properties put to use, more opportunities for housing, and communities that can grow and thrive.”

Downtown New Brunswick president Patrick Richard says he supports the proposed law change. He believes it will give municipalities more power to deal with empty properties.

“Downtown New Brunswick welcomes this proposed amendment as another valuable tool in the municipal toolbox to support the revitalization of our downtowns and urban centres,” said Richard.

“By empowering municipalities to address vacant and underutilized properties, we can encourage reinvestment, stimulate economic growth and unlock new opportunities to create more vibrant, prosperous and resilient downtown communities across New Brunswick.”

Additional amendments have been introduced as part of the government’s broader commitment to build a property tax system that is more transparent, predictable and stable.

Proposed amendments to the Assessment Act include requiring property owners to respond to a request for information within 45 days or lose the right to request a review of their assessment.

Property owners will no longer be allowed to appeal to the Assessment and Planning Appeal Tribunal if they fail to provide the required information.

These measures are meant to improve the information Property Assessment Services collects and analyzes to accurately determine the assessment values of properties.

Proposed amendments to the Residential Property Tax Relief Act will extend the residential property tax credit to secondary attached or detached residences on the same parcel of land.

In addition, the term “eligible individual” will replace “spouse or children” in the act. “Eligible individual” will be defined as an adult child or children, spouse, common-law partner, parent, grandparent, or an adult eligible for the Federal Disability Tax Credit.

Additional amendments to the Local Governance Act will enable local governments and rural districts to enter into a community benefit agreement with a developer, allowing them to directly benefit from local economic development. A community benefit agreement is a contract in which a developer commits to providing amenities, services, in-kind benefits, local hiring commitments, and/or funding to a community to offset anticipated impacts from the development.

“All of these amendments are another important step forward in the property tax and fiscal reform processes to strengthen our local governments,” said Kennedy.

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Paige Morgan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, River Valley Sun.