Portage city council has turned down an application from the Portage Animal Welfare Society for a tax exemption. Councillor Wayne Wall says they took a look at what they're doing with similar organizations and the city currently isn't giving that kind of a tax exemption to any non-profit groups in town, other than the exemption for churches. Wall notes they thought it might set a bad precedent, as there are quite a few non-profit organizations in Portage which pay their taxes.

He says there are other avenues open to "PAWS," including applying for a grant. Wall notes the city's current budget includes more than half a million dollars in grants.  He adds PAWS will probably have to wait until September, however,  when the next grant applications will be accepted.