HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1998-09-23, Page 1VOL. 15 WIC 38
From one Ambassador to another! CarnlYn
Andrew (lett), the 1997 AmbaSsador for the Fall
Fair officially crowned Sandra Alton the 1998
Fall Fair Ambassador during the opening eery-
mOnies Friday night. Lots more photos inside
this week. (LiVingaton photo) • .
re(
WEDNESDAY;SEPTEMBEII 23,1998
'65$ INCLUDES G.S.T.
Nasty surprise: for commercial
ratepayers; education taxe:jivirnt.p
by Pat Livingston'still ha. total
in the village of Lucknow irtforvatZ0n- ee tn
got a nasty surprise last
week when they received a Se t COC W
Commercial ratepayers I11 h QSt t
ax SUMS i0 , boards
ts
second "final" billing"
reflecting the' education
portion of their taxes. The
' first "final billing" Was
nailed in early Septerriber
and for, many commercial
ratepayers there appeared
to •be no drastic Change in
taxes. However, the sec-
ond billing to include the
eduationportion madeit a
different story.
• After the 'new assess
-
Ment on. properties, the
increase in the county levy
and the huge 014 !g!1411,-.
cant:Mal tax tri.e.ointrterc141.
'
some people are facing
increases of 67 per Cent.,
Some even More..
Commercial property
owners are taking little
' • • . •4.
consolation in the fact that
the whole of Bruce County
is facing the same educa-
tion and County rate.
The reassessment of
properties brought the val-
ues from 1988 market
value • to 1996 market
value: (The figure on your
' assessment notice is what
the market value .of your
property would have been
in 1996,) Unless there
were any changeS in your
'Oft414101
• hands, your Iast assess-
ment completed in ' 1992
'was based on 4,1988 mar-
ket value. ,
.The downloading from
the province to the countY
of edUcation by a due date.
The village levy •on
commercial property actu-
ally ...decreased from
resulted in an increase in $60,955 in 1997, to
the county portion of taxes $47,600 in 1998,
too. In 1997, Lucknow had .Reeve Stuart. Reavie
to raise $2Q,157 from cont. said that if property own-
, mercial properties for the ers think their assessment
• county. In 1998 that figure is too high they should fol.
is $48,947 - that's abont, a, low the procedure on the
143 per cent Increase. assessment notice to start
School taxes on corn. an appeal, •
mercial property in 1997 However, Reavie eau -
were $102,122. In 1998 tioned that people should
school taxes on commer- be realistic about the prop,
cial property have erty value and riot appeal it
increased 33 per cent to simplyas a meansot
. .:itOctiteifigAbOik Ooilats.
In both instances (coml. "If you can prove You are
ty and education), the vil- are over -assessed go ahead • •
lage acts as tax Collector and appeal' •
with no remuneration. And Although it's ,not offi-
whether you pay your dal, the date for appealing
taxes or mot, the village an assessment is to be •
• extended until Oct. 30. ft is
expected that legislation to
that effect will be passed
• later this week.,
'Council realizes tilts •••
will be an impact on small'
businesses," said Reavie. •
"We intendto lobby the
province, along :With the
• ChaMber, and- businesseS, • •
to look at fairer tax SYs.
.tein especially. with school
boardin
and , to provide ,
-more *dollars to the county •
• so, it's not passed down to
the lower tier govern-
ment
* "The education tax on
commercial • is_amfair."
ReaVie said;. "If conmer.
• cial property owners think
the same they should write
letters •to Mike Harris and •
.their MPP telling them it is
going to be a burden - and
could put some people_ out ••
of business." . •
The-• Lucknow and
District • Chamber -of •
Commerce is hosting a tax'
infOrrnation night on
'Tuesday, Sept, 29; 7:39
p.m., downstairs in the
1, town • halt Council mein- . •
• , bers will be present to help • ,
explain the various
Changes in taXes.. The
Meeting is open to both
commercial and residential
ratepayers.
• _
' Melanie Bannerman, of Kincardine, won tirst.place in the'costume clans
.for horne.and rider at the light horse show on Sunday. It was all part of
the Lucknow Fall Fair -events that enjoyed super weather all weekend
long. (Livingston photo)'
. ,
•
ommer
to pass
formation.: