A Kingsbridge resident has asked Huron County council to waive taxes on the former St. Joseph's Catholic Church in the community for the next five years.
Jennifer Miltenburg points out the county hasn't taxed the building for more than 100 years while it was a church, and she's asking that taxes continue to be waived as it's converted into a community hub.
Miltenburg says this is not just a Kingsbridge issue, explaining that it's estimated that one-third of the 27,000 faith buildings in Ontario will close within the next ten years and many of those in small communities like Kingsbridge will become community hubs.
She says most of them are in need of repairs and she's asking the county to give them five years to raise the money for those repairs without having the additional burden of taxes, which they have never had to pay in the past.
The request to Huron County council has been referred to staff for a report.