Clarington Council has approved funding as part of a comprehensive relief package, to assist property owners, non-profit organizations and business owners who have been impacted by Covid-19.
An announcement said the council approved three separate financial support programs (click to view details and find out how to qualify):
- Covid-19 Property Tax Relief Program
- Covid-19 Community Improvement Program
- Covid-19 Community Support
Property Tax Relief Program
As part of a $2 million financial support package for taxpayers and business owners negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, Clarington Council has dedicated $1 million to a temporary property tax relief program.
The property tax relief program will only cover the local, municipal portion of the tax bill, which amounts to roughly 30 per cent of the overall bill. The relief program spans from March 17, when the province declared an emergency, until June 19, when Clarington entered Stage 2 of Ontario’s reopening framework.
Residents will need to apply for the tax relief program and will have to meet strict criteria. The program was passed under a clause in the Municipal Act, which gives a local municipality the authority to refund taxes levied if Council considers the taxes to be “unduly burdensome” on taxpayers. The definition of “unduly burdensome” has been set out by Clarington Council.
The tax relief program requires residents to show that the taxes levied are unaffordable and create a financial strain on the overall household income, which may have been cut as a result of the pandemic due to job loss or other circumstances. Taxpayers will have to prove that property taxes levied are higher than five per cent of their overall household income. Also, residents will have to show that the taxes levied amount to more than 20 per cent of their non-registered savings, creating a financial hardship. To qualify for the rebate, residents will have to provide the following documents:
- bank statements or investment statements for each month of the rebate period (March to June);
- letters from employers showing job loss;
- record of employment;
- notices of assessment or supporting documentation that show receipt of Employment Insurance (EI) or Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) payments.
If residents meet the conditions outlined in the application process, they will receive a refund cheque from the municipality. As an example, the annual municipal taxes on a home assessed at $500,000 are $1,965.38. This translates to monthly payments of $163.78, which covers only the local portion of your taxes, and the rebate received would be $655.12.
Property Tax Relief Application Form (PDF)
Covid-19 Community Improvement Program
Clarington business owners can now apply for grant funding to assist with the costs incurred while adapting and managing the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Covid-19 Community Improvement Plan (CIP) will provide support to qualifying business owners to make physical modifications to their businesses as they slowly reopen. Businesses will need to demonstrate that they are financially unable to cover the costs of making the safety improvements required by Public Health to reopen safely.
The CIP will provide grant funding for a variety of safety measures, including plexiglass barriers to protect staff and customers, signage to encourage spacing, and realignment of displays and work areas to allow for distancing. Businesses will also have to meet the following criteria to qualify for funding:
- the business will have to show that it was forced to shut down due to the provincial emergency declaration;
- a restaurant providing takeout that was forced to shut down;
- the business is independently owned and not part of a national chain;
- the business owner must meet a financial “means” test and will have to provide income and asset information.
The draft CIP will be brought to council for final approval, at which point funds will be released to qualifying businesses.
The pre-application form is intended to provide Planning Services staff with information about the improvements local businesses are investing in to adapt and manage the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. The information will help shape the development of the Covid-19 Community Improvement Plan, including grant programs to support Covid-19-related physical business improvement projects.
COVID-19 Community Improvement Plan (CIP) Pre-Application Form (PDF)
Covid-19 Community Support Program
The Covid-19 Community Support Program will provide financial assistance for eligible not-for-profit community agencies and volunteer organizations in Clarington that were negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The program will only assist organizations suffering a loss as a result of program and service closures or reduced fundraising capabilities due to the pandemic.
The application window for this program is now closed.
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