The Kentville Business Park is home to more than 50 businesses. The town is asking the province to repeal provincial legislation to allow it to charge businesses in the park a different commercial tax rate. Photo by Jason Malloy /Annapolis Valley RegisterArticle contentA big tax increase could be coming for companies in the Kentville Business Park.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentKentville town council voted unanimously to approve a motion July 28 to send a letter to Kings North MLA John Lohr to request the province repeal legislation passed in 1983. It tied the tax rate for businesses inside the Kentville Business Park to the County of Kings’ commercial tax rate.Article contentArticle contentArticle content“It is felt that the purpose and role of this initial lower tax rate for the Kentville Business Park has now run its course and therefore going forward, the town should consider repealing the current special legislation so that businesses located within this area would pay the same commercial tax rate as other commercial businesses within town boundaries,” chief administrative officer Chris McNeill wrote in his report to council.Article contentThe roughly 200-acre park, originally known as the Kentville Industrial Park, is home to more than 50 businesses.Article contentCurrently, businesses inside the Kentville Business Park pay $2.287 per $100 of assessed value while businesses outside the park pay $3.2962 per $100 of assessed value.Article contentThe business park rate was initially an incentive for companies to move to the park.Article content“At the time, it was implemented because the park was new and they wanted to encourage business to go there,” Mayor Andrew Zebian said. “It’s full now.”Article contentArticle contentMcNeill said repealing the legislation would provide an opportunity to create an even playing field for businesses in town.Article content“In addition, we are now seeing businesses moving into the Kentville Business Park that are not industrial in nature, such as offices, which may be the result of a lower tax rate and where they may not rely on walk-in traffic for a majority of their business transactions,” he wrote.Article contentMcNeill said the legislation would have to be repealed during the fall sitting in order for it to take effect for the 2026-27 fiscal year.Article contentIf repealed, Zebian said town council would then set a tax rate for businesses within the park. It could be the same as businesses outside of the park or council could choose to phase the tax hike in over a few years so businesses don’t see the increase all at once.Article content“We could have that conversation at that point,” Zebian said.
Kentville wants to charge business park companies more taxes
