File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Kamloops council

Film Society will be made to pay Paramount property taxes as bid for exemption dies

Sep 10, 2019 | 4:31 PM

KAMLOOPS — Three Kamloops non-profit organizations will pay thousands in 2019 property taxes after their applications for permissive tax exemptions were denied by council.

While non-profits such as places of worship and hospitals are granted statutory exemptions from paying property taxes by the province, others must apply to the city to be declared exempt.

This year, the United Way, the Kamloops Film Society and Generation Victory Centre Ministries all applied.

In recommending denial for the United Way, staff told council the organization did not have an occupancy permit for its new Tranquille Road location by August 31.

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Council denied the ministry because its property at 1100 Tranquille Road is not considered a place of worship under the statutory definition. It serves as a kickboxing gym.

Finally, the denial for the Film Society at the Paramount Theatre on Victoria Street is expected to have a big impact on the organization.

Staff recommended denial because the society missed a May 31 deadline to file.

Film Society Executive Director Dusan Magdolen told council the deadline came only days after the organization assumed control of the Paramount.

“We were not aware that we were eligible as lessees to apply for this,” Magdolen told Kamloops council Tuesday. “Once we were, we completed the application in a matter of days.”

Landmark Cinemas announced it was abandoning the historic downtown theatre in April. With the help of the Kelson Group, the society hastily moved to keep the building in operation.

“With trying to make this a viable venture, [$15,000] is a huge amount of money for us as a society, in trying to keep the Paramount Theatre running,” Magdolen told council.

“We’re not in direct competition with the Cineplex Odeon. That theatre does what they’re going to do and we adjust after the fact. Any film we get has already been passed on by the Cineplex Odeon.”

While council voted not to exempt the United Way and the ministry, a motion to deny the Film Society an exemption died without a seconder.

However, staff noted for the society to actually be exempt from paying, council would have needed to spell that out in a separate motion.

Because that didn’t happen, the taxman will soon be knocking on the Paramount’s door.