DAVIDSON—Members of Davidson Country Club Golf Co-operative are at a loss over what to do about their property taxes.

Since about 2006 the golf club, which operates as a non-profit co-operative, has received an abatement of its property taxes from the R.M. of Willner.

But all this has changed.

The golf club’s volunteer board advised its members of the situation at their annual general meeting March 27.

“Whatever we can do we’re trying,” club president Cliff Cross said. “We thought we’d bring it to everyone’s attention.”

The golf club received a letter in September informing them that at a special meeting on Sept. 22, R.M. council decided to abate the golf course’s municipal property taxes of $8,006 for the 2011 year.

At the same meeting, the letter states, council decided to repeal Bylaw No. 01/2010 that abated the golf course’s municipal taxes until 2014. The bylaw was repealed under “Section 3 of Exhibit A ‘any other conditions that council may in future specify.’ Council remains open to considering future arrangements for inclusion in the 2012 budget preparation,” administrator Bonny Goodsman states in the letter.

In January, the golf club was advised by a letter that the R.M. of Willner, although it was not abating the 2012 taxes, would give them a $4,000 recreation grant instead. The R.M. is also giving Davidson Recreation Board a grant of $6,000.

This $4,000 grant in lieu of the tax abatement, if the 2012 property tax bill is similar to last year’s, means the golf club will be required to pay about $4,000 in municipal property taxes and $4,900 in school taxes in 2012.

“If we have to pay these taxes every year, we’re going to be broke in no time,” Cross said.

For the full story, please read see this week’s edition of The Davidson Leader.