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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1998-07-29, Page 12Page 12 — Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, July 29I998 Bruce County finally able to set tax ratios by Pat Halpin Four months behind its usual sehedule, Bruce County • has set the ratios that will tell county residents what. their taxes are this year. • • • County administrator Wayne Jamieson said the delay Was caused by province -wide property reassessment and new legislation affecting. downloading. As late as July • 10 the province was issuing figures needed for tax cal-, culations on commercial properties. It has been a frustrating year, not only for ourselves •but the lower municipalities as vvell, dealing with cash •,shortages (and) dealing with our new responsibilities," Jamieson said. The county has also been under pressure to get infor- mationto`ratepayers in time for them to eonsider it and meet assessment appeal deadlines. The average Bruce County ratepayer with a property assessed at $100000 will pay $503 in county taxes this year. The overall tax burden is up 4 per cent, Jamieson said, but property reassessment means the change ranges from a tax decrease for some properties to a 15% increase for others, 'There are significant tax shifts when you look at individual municipalities," Jamieson said. Kninsula residential and village commercial properties were espe- cially hard hit by reassessment; which MOMS they. will see a big change in their tax bills. "I'm sure there are going to be some taxpayers that are very happy this fall, and there will be a number that Will not be happy with the overall impact on their prop- ertY taxes," Jamieson predicted. Sorne property owners • will be happy. ; . others will not Bruce County has to raise $19 million this year to provide services downloaded from the government. Last - year's levy was about $9 million. • • "The county's levy has increased approximately three times 'what it was last year, but because the (education) taxes are cut by the province on residential property, that reduction should offset the increase in the county levy," Jamieson said. Municipalities won't get any of the so7ealled educa. tion tax room because the cost of services downloaded to the county outweighed the savings on education • taxes. The province is picking up the tab for $11 million that residential property taxes used to pay toward educa- tion, but has handed down $12 million worth otexpens- es for social services, public housing, ambulance and highways. • • Jamieson told councillors that municipalities have been given community reinvestment grants to compen- sate for the inequities of a downloading process that was promised to be revenue neutral. "The problem is you're more dependent on grants," he said. "This was not a decision made at this Jevel. I guess if you have any complaint about (the decision),It should be taken to Queen's Fork." County clerk Bettyanne Bray said the ratios approved „ Tuesday give Bruce County lower farm and commercial taxes, than either Grey or Huron. On average, a Bruce county homeowner with a $100,000 assessment will pay $503 for county taxes, while the same assessment would have a tax bill of $561 in Grey county or $590 in Huron. 4, turn to a e 13 • ./.<•'' OUa IX DAY - SUMMER HO IDAY SAE STARTS TODAY UNDER THE BIG TOP! JULY. 29TH THROUGH AUGUST 3RD (OPEN SUNDAY & HOLIDAY MONDAY) FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM • • tleM 998 Docoolvon, nom #ain • EMAPPOCIVIth $.1114 01004 • cassitte.P24511M0000.4-tirotif 1998CHRii 9.ER SEBRINGX • ooded bugstm. traction Equipo.dwit wAist, "ntroh yrs 409104, *Pow Pro40 morixtancti `1"11114".. at3Ple red vOikrt , NO TRADE CASH NO TRADE CASH PURCHASE 'SPORTF 4-44.. 0 tin,. deep tint $unstrean .fuktrte es?,are, clOth seats & more. 2 door loader. ow TRADE 5H.PURCHASE PRICE CTORY PROGRAM & PRE -O VEHICLE SPECIALS FEA low ooDoe scoN STOCK 0593ft Witty itquIpbsd with & ruternatic. tow ken 21)0410,1te or fattoPot wartt*It • 92 ,988 •"229 POO *10 1990 DOOCE CARAVANSE., storx0595kototvttiPMfelNt, v.‘ wiedayor/lorin,V8 ete,..' 7 0777,tlf1 ‘71441 ni7r.IP °`7W kkil*:671,"71174.+'Wr 1099 DODGE 0041.0CARAVN •suNK#4407k ,Extroinuttopaa.00 0000 katrauwitath air, 0004 eiarsoic abto..tReichwe #100,00. 1NCLUDING.,.. • II JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES • MI DODGE NEON II PLYMOUTH BREEZE ▪ DODGE STRATUS 111 CHRYSLER CIRRUS IS CHRYSLER INTREPID III bonne • • CARAVANS DODGE GRAND CARAVAN • PLYMOUTH VOYAGER al PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER II DODGE RAM TRUCKS lExctuDES WS SPECIAJ. LEASE R DODGE,St • I'Ccrynistor4rol, AM/FM stereo. 1/1,W444'' • 424 , YSLER.INTREPi ':itiONiatJP, air conditioninoiPOWEif ti;Ariii/Fawitttcassetteariett1420 300....SUNCOA ST DR, 7383 1-8004651780 • tPriCe N Olds fre1911,:arid tpxcs With arty/ail fattorylncentIstes assigned to. dealer, Y.40 month iene ter0.,40Vainterestls foi•36 month term; OtherlOWIntere#Ioait4mIliable, All igeeemelits are OAC.