The Great Corner Brook Board of Trade’s online survey was completed by 75 of its 300 members.
The results released by the board of trade indicate most members support the City of Corner Brook pursuing amalgamation with neighbouring towns, moving towards eliminating the poll tax, introducing a water levy based on consumption volumes, revisiting the idea of instituting an accommodations levy to generate a tourism marketing fund and finding other ways to improve the climate for doing business in Corner Brook.
Below is a list of the pre-budget recommendations submitted to the city. For the full report, here is the link: http://bit.ly/2fFxLDo
RECOMMENDATIONS
BUSINESS CLIMATE
- Allow city staff to sit on outside committees/boards.
- Update the 2006 Red Tape Report and establish a committee with outside representation to oversee its implementation.
- Implement, without further delay, policies/regulations that have been in discussion stages for extended periods already (e.g., outdoor digital signage).
- Provide updates on response/permit approval response times at each city council meeting and on city website.
REVENUES
- Reduce the commercial tax rate in the 2017 budget.
- Introduce a plan to phase out the poll tax, with reductions to be implemented in the 2017 budget.
- Enter into service agreements with neighbouring municipalities or the provincial government to ensure the city fully recovers all costs for services offered to outside communities.
- Ensure water and sewer levies are adequate to meet future expenditures.
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
- Continue the business improvement tax credit program, with an increased budget and enhanced promotion. The program must remain open to all business zones of the city. The City of Corner Brook is seen as not doing enough to attract and retain businesses.
- Establish a committee, including outside representation from groups like the Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade, to develop a business attraction plan and marketing strategy.
- Establish a fund solely for marketing the city and attracting new businesses.
- Offer a tax credit or other incentive program for attracting new businesses.
- Support establishment of a regional business incubator.
- Make city hall and the civic square available for all cruise ship visits and other community / tourism events.
- Ensure basic maintenance and upkeep of all current infrastructures.
ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES
- Tie council remuneration to the rate of inflation and have the current city council set the remuneration level for incoming council.
- Launch a volume-based water rate pilot project and education campaign for the industrial/commercial/institutional sector.
- Restart efforts to introduce an accommodation levy. Place any funds collected through an accommodation levy in a dedicated fund, to be entrusted to the Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade or a to-be-established committee, to be used solely for marketing the city.
- Explore eliminating business improvement area mandatory fees as one means of lessening financial burden on businesses in this area.
- Begin discussions with neighbouring municipalities regarding amalgamation. Study the costs of amalgamation (assuming responsibility for aging infrastructure in neighbouring municipalities) before moving forward.
Source: Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade
