Distribution of tax delayed

The distribution of  funds collected under the town’s recreation tax levy was put on hold at the request of council during the regular Viking town council meeting Monday, Nov. 21.
    Mayor Marlene Grandinetti asked for clarification on the meaning of the bylaw saying that as she read the document, the tax was intended to help cover the costs of general repair, maintenance, and operations of the Town of Viking recreational facilities and was never designed to be distributed to service organizations.

  The  bylaw which deals with the recreation tax levy has been in existence since 2004 and allows for a flat fee of $48.00 per parcel of land to be levied as a special  recreation tax in addition to all other rates and taxes.

    To date, the money collected has been given to town facilities and to community groups to help cover a variety of projects.

    Mayor Grandinetti said she was not comfortable going ahead with the distribution of the funds until the original intent of the bylaw is known. She said if necessary a new bylaw should be drawn up specifically stating what the dollars collected under the Recreation Tax should be used to support.

    The existing bylaw was looked at and the council agreed that the distribution of the tax dollars may have moved away from the original intent of the 2004 bylaw.

    A variety of local clubs and groups have taken up the invitation from the town to apply for a portion of the recreation tax dollars to help pay for a number of projects such as the purchase of new uniforms or planned trips or instruction costs. A total of nine requests were received this year.

More see the Nov. 29/11 Viking Weekly Review