MacBride Museum won't pay Whitehorse property tax after all

The City of Whitehorse will not bechargingthe MacBride Museum of Yukon History property taxes, after an amendmentto its grant policy was passed this week.

The city previously granted funds to museumsthat covered the taxes museums owed.Last month, the city changed its grant policy sothat museumswould have to begin paying a portion of theirproperty tax and city council voted down an amendment that would have spared the MacBride museum.

Deputy MayorJocelyn Curteanutabled an amendment to the policysayingthatif a museum holds title to its land, it should not be taxed.

At their meeting this week, city councillors voted to support the amendment.

Keith Halliday, chair of theMacBrideMuseum's board,says a lot of creative thinking went into finding a solution.

"We are really pleased by this decision by city council," he said.

"The MacBride has had a very productive 60-year relationship with the City of Whitehorse and we look forward to continuing that with great programming for another 60years."

The museum's tax payments would have been phased in over four years, witha bill ofabout $5,000 the first year, with increases in following years.

MacBride Museum's full property tax grant from the city is $24,467.

The MacBride Museum is the only museum in Whitehorse that fits the criteria of council's amendment.

The Yukon government owns the land that all other museumsin the city occupy.