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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-08-27, Page 1Sports 1 Church Entertainment | Blyth Squirts move on to semi-finals in WOAA playoffs St. Michael's Roman Catholic congregation welcomes new priest Some new local talents featured in 1997 ‘Barndance Live’ See page 8 See page 15 See page 23 CitizenTheNorthHuron Wednesday, Aug. 27,1997 70$♦5$gst750 Province’s ‘dumping’ will cost taxpayers, says Grey Dep.-Reeve Bly th plans to keep pushing tax change "This is our last kick atohe cal,” said Bly th Reeve Mason Bailey. Bailey, in reference to the rural municipalities struggle against the provincial government to have edu­ cation taxes removed from property taxes, said he will be "laying it on the line" at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference, being held in Toronto this week. Bailey, along with Councillor Doug Scrimgeour, who are attend­ ing the three-day seminar to further their cause for rural municipalities, discussed the matter at the Aug. 19 meeting of Blyth council to deter­ mine the approach they should take. "We have nothing to lose," said Bailey. "We should lay it on strong and stress that every municipality in Ontario has been forced onto the offensive. It is time to represent the people as we should be." Bailey said he was prepared to rr .ke a strong statement that social services not be bome by the munic­ ipalities but by the provincial and federal governments. "If all social and education (costs) were lifted off property taxes, municipalities could handle the rest," said Bailey. "It wouldn't be a problem to look after our infrastructure." Word was received early Tues­ day morning that the resolution brought forward at the AMO con­ ference by Blyth council, regarding the removal of education taxes from all property, was adopted. Aside from the downloading of -services, council also received word that the cost for policing for the village could be $69,407. "I think the public should know what is going on. They need to understand that the Harris govern­ ment is dumping everything on local governments." Those are the thoughts of Grey Twp. Deputy-Reeve Robin Dunbar after reviewing a report from the Huron County administration out­ lining the costs of downloading to municipalities. Grey Twp. could be the hardest hit in the county with residents fac­ ing an 81 per cent rise in property faxes due to downloading, as detailed in the report. The county compiled information detailing the current and future property tax levels after requesting numbers for each municipality. A presentation was being made at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference this week. "Grey Twp. has done a lot of construction and received more grants," said Dunbar, trying to explain the enormous increase pro­ jected for the township. "Some townships may also have bigger percentage increases because of the number of residents who are going to help carry the farm tax rebate." "The figures are so extreme," said Dunbar, "that it blows the Harris government's contention that this is a revenue neutral switch. Municipalities don't have as many ways to cut so it is going to mean a tax increase." However, Huron MPP Helen Johns backs her government's re­ allocation of services saying that with the changes education lax and funding which will be available, the restructuring should be close to revenue neutral. "The county sees a shortfall of $4 million even with the 50 per cent reduction in education taxes,” said John Stewart, clerk-treasurer for Blyth. "The municipalities don't yet know the farm tax rebate will be allocated from the pool. I will work hard for the county to get the rebate covered," says Johns. "The $4 mil­ lion shortfall stated by the county will be close to the number for the rebate and that $4 million is only a two per cent reduction in their Man missing Seaforth OPP are requesting the assistance of the public. Garry Young, 43, of Railroad Street, Seaforth, has not been seen since early Sunday morning, Aug. 23. Young's family and the police are very concerned for his safety. If anyone has seen or heard from him this week, call the OPP Communication Centre at 1-888- 310-1122 or the Goderich Detachment at 524-8314. spending." Dunbar also pointed out that three-quarters of rural budgets go to roads, making cuts difficult. Though Grey Twp. could be the hardest hit in the county, each municipality will be bracing for substantial increases when the costs of policing, social services, road maintenance and other programs are downloaded. Based on a $100,000 assessment for a home, taxes in Blyth are antic­ ipated to increase by 22 per cent, from $1,780 to $2,174; Brussels, 32 per cent from $1,441 to $1,904; Grey Twp., 81 per cent from $1,395 to $2,532; Hullett Twp., 54 per cent from $1,358 to $2,096; McKillop Twp., 64 per cent from $1,476 to $2,420; Morris Twp., 69 per cent from $1,405 to $2,377; East Wawanosh Twp., 67 per cent from $1,665 to $2,775 and West Wawanosh Twp, 75 per cent from $1,390 to $2,432. Clerk-Treasurer Stewart said the impact may be lessened by the $500 million fund set aside by the provincial government to aid in the adjustment. However, it is not yet known by municipalities how those monies will be distributed. The increases come from both the municipal and county level to cover costs of the downloaded ser­ vices. The county has estimated the impact of the shifting of responsi­ bilities, including revenues lost through changes in programs. Shared programs such as social assistance and child care will cost taxpayers $3.2 million more, while the province's assumption of Chil­ dren's Aid will lessen the blow by $.4 million. The county will lose revenues from managed forests, farm tax rebate, gross tax receipts and library grants, totalling $6.7 mil­ lion. Social housing, public health and ambulance services will cost the county $5.2 million while other transferred services such as proper­ ty assessment, police, airports and septic inspection will ring up another $4.1 million. The province will return the rev­ enue from provincial offenses and assume $13.8 million of the cost of Continued on page 19 Holiday hours Labour Day is fast approaching and as our readers take time to enjoy the last holiday weekend of the summer, there will be few changes at The Citizen. The deadlines and hours on Monday will remain the same at the Blyth office, which will be open all day. However, the Brus­ sels office will be closed. Copy can be dropped off through the slot in the door until Monday at noon for inclusion in the Sept. 3 issue.