Should a Town Tax Itself

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Who is minding the shop?":

While your attentions have been focused elsewhere, this boondoggle has been draining the Town coffers. While all the bitching and moaning was going on about the Cultural Centre, I was wondering why no one was looking at the bubble's operations.

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What do  you mean, "no-one was looking at the bubble's operation"?

How did you come to be "wondering" about it if  you weren't hearing about it?

One  thing  has to be understood. The town  is managed by an "Executive Leadership Team" 

Council receives professional advice from the team. 

In matters of finance, the  treasurer is  the authority. 

The advice  received was because of the change in use,  taxes had to be paid.

There was no change in use. The property was still public and still being used as a soccer field. It was enclosed by the dome and the town had  use from May 1st until September 30th each year/

Two treasurers gave  the same advice. There was a process but it was extremely complicated and tedious.

From 2003, the town had a succession of treasurer.and interim treasurers . In 2006, we  had an interim Chief Admiistrative Officer
to carry us through the process of the sale of  hydro.and who  in time, evolved into an interim treasurer.

He was  former CAO of the Town of Vaughan. I'm not sure about the timeline of signing the Soccer Dome contract. But the Leisure Services Director was confident and has never agreed the property should be taxed .The Town of Vaughan has a similar contract and the property is  tax exempt . As does Richmond Hill and Newmarket. . 

I accepted the treasurer's advice. I knew no different. The Leisure Services Director's  argument was muted. 

It wasn't until  the  circling and the hunt begin again at the General Committee meeting on  Tuesday  I had a different reaction. 

 I made a  phone call on Wednesday and  learned the Club House on town  property at the south end of town is tax exempt.  

I became convinced at that point all was not right. . 

I take my share of responsibility.  I don't take all of it.

I had fellow-travelers  from 2007 to 2010 with a different objective.

My notice of motion referring  the matter to the town solicitor to review and  advise.will not be heard until the  following Council meeting. 

Unless Council feels the issue is urgent enough to waive procedure.

We cannot recover taxes paid already. We should not pay more until the question is resolved. 

The issue will be  on the table for resolution once and for all.

If there is to be a  challenge to a tax issue it will be Council's direction  to the legal department .

At this point, I don't think  eagerness to hunt down and punish a culprit will take precedence over the town's best interest.

There is plenty of blame to go around,