HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-05-09, Page 4Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp
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Member of the Ontario Press Council INETEMNI
Keeping watch
Photo by Janice Becker
PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2001
Editorials
& Opinions
Downloading the tax burden
The provincial government is today expected to deliver a budget with
more tax cuts. Meanwhile, across the province, municipalities are, one by
one, announcing property tax increases. It seems that the province hasn't
'just doWtloaded services but has also downloaded the tax burden.
It wasn't supposed to be this way. The province promised downloading
would be "revenue neutral". Provincial officials will tell you it was — that
the whole problem is that municipal politicians just aren't up to making the
(tough decisions of cutting costs, the way the provincial government has.
After all, in the first years after downloading took place taxes didn't go up,
For the ordinary citizen, trying to judge which side •of this argument to
elieve can be impossible., Downloading came with gobs of supplemental
funding which delayed the true effect of the shift in services and revenues.
As long as the province continued to provide this funding. true
downloading hadn't really taken place. If (or when) the government stops
these additional grants, property taxes v, ill jump. -
As well, one of the most expensive items in the downloading basket is
just now turning up at the county and regional level: land ambulances.
While municipalities have been picking up the tab for the provincially-run
system for the past couple' of years, this year they are responsible for
running the ambulance service for the first time. As well, the province has
increased the standards these services are expected to .meet. Staff, for
instance, is expected to be better trained. Ambulance stations that were
fine for provincial use, must be upgraded to meet new regulations.
That continued role of the provincial government is another aspect of
downloading that's often overlooked. The • original idea of
"disentanglement" when it arose first under the NDP government, was to
give some - areas of jurisdiction to the province and others to the
municipalities. What's happened, however, is that the province has kept
regulatory control over many of the areas where they've shifted the
financial burden to the municipalities. A change in government policy can
mean increases for municipal property tax.
Take water treatment. for instance. Following the Walkerton tragedy, the
provincial government met criticism of its relaxed policies with a raft of
new regulations. Most people were pleased, until the cost of implementing
those regulations started to becOme evident. For rural areas with small
water systems, the cost of testing and chlorination could be prohibitive.
The province gets the praise for doing something, the municipalities pick
up the cost.
Municipal amalgamation is another area of provincially-initiated change
for which the full cost is not yet known. The amalgamation process was
greased with large amounts of provincial money to make the transition go
smoothly. Only when these new larger municipalities, with their larger
staffs, begin to get all their money from property tax will we know the true
savings, or expense, of amalgamation.
The Harris government may be trailing the Liberals badly in a recent
poll but the public, generally, -has the sense they're good managers. That
reputation wouldn't probably be confirmed by municipal politicians who
have to make its policies work. Only time, and tax bills, will tell the
ordinary person who's right. — KR
Looking Back Through the Years
May 10, 1950
A front page story told of a
vicious killer of dogs at work in
Brussels. Two dogs were found
buried on a vacant lot owned by S.B.
Elliott. One of the dogs was owned
by Gus Eder and one by Bill
Kellington.
Both animals had apparently been
beaten to death with a club.
A warning also on the front page
from S.B. Elliott stated, "Anyone
disposing of dead animals or
garbage of any kind on my premises
will be prosecuted according to the
law."
The music festival at Belgrave
drew a capacity crowd.
Winners were: Darlene Pierce,
Claire Chamney, Mary Johnston,
Ula Griffiths, Johanna Hardema,
Edith Davis, Raymond Walker,
Jimmie Scott, Bob Jefferson, Billie-
Thompson, Spika de Hann, Keith
Rodgers, Tommy Brydges, George
Baron, Richard McCutcheon,
Donald Jardine, Barry Watson,
Albert Watson, Gwen Walsh,
Marlene Mackenzie, June Hackwell,
Doris johnston, Claire Taylor,
Shirley Badley, Marie Lyddiatt, Ian
Griffiths, Louise Jefferson, Helen
Haines, Donna Walden,' Audrey
Hackwell, Barbara Smith.
Dr. Jellinek, head of the school for
studies in alcohol at Yale University.
After thorough investigation he
reported fewer alcoholics in rural
areas than in urban areas. The rate
of chronic alcoholism in cities of
100,(X)0 or more was higher by 33.7
per cent than in smaller towns and
cities and higher by 105 per cent
than in rural areas.
The story went on to say, "Huron
County is fortunate that it is a county
of smaller towns and rural areas. It is
also fortunate that it is under the
Canada Temperance Act, that does
not provide for liquor outlets."
May 7, 1986
Following a lengthy closed-door
meeting, Brussels council approved
a Brussels Lions Club proposal for a
new wading pool in a vote of
"questionable legality".
The club proposed to build the
pool at the back of the lot housing
the new swimming pool and use th
location of the present wading pool
for reinstallation of playground
equipment moved to make way for
the swimming pool. Council went
into committee of the whole and five
spectators, the press and even new
clerk-treasurer Hugh Hanly spent 50
minutes on the street outside the
office.
The annual accounting bill for the
Village of Brussels was going to be
over $14,000, about double the
normal amount.
One Blyth organization found out
it can be difficult to give money
away.
The Agricultural Society, faced
with either making its account active
or losing the money into the internal
working of the banking system
decided it would give away the
remainder of its funds to an
organization with a project in mind
that would benefit agriculture in the
area. Two weeks later no one had
come forward.
Marlene Albers. 16 was selected
Queen of the New Canadian Club of
Huron and Perth.
Club members of longstanding
were rewarded at 4-H,_ achievement:
Connie Alcock, Darlene Darlow,
Ruth Higgins, Rosse Ann
Machan, Melanie Sanderson,
Leanne Armstrong and Peggy
McLellan.
Leadership awl..rds went to Karen
Stewart, Merilyn Lockie, Sharon
Darlow and Ula Richmond.
Members of the Brussels Bulls
Junior C hockey team receiving
awards at the annual banquet were:
Kevin McArter, Kevin Ruttan, Tom
Newbigging, Tim Fritz. Graduating
from Junior hockey were: Matt
Carter, Kevin Wheeler, Jim Bender,
Rollie Smith, Dave Schmidt, Kirk
Whitfield and Steve Conners.
May 8, 1991
The grand opening for the new
Farmer's Market at Brussels
Livestock was set for later in the
month.
Jim Armstrong marked his 40th
anniversary as a pilot at a special
surprise party. He began lessons at
Goderich airport on May I. 1951.
Two Hullett residents, George
Collins and Jack Lee, were honoured
with certificates from the Ontario
Municipal Recreation Association.
May 8, 1996
Hours after the participants of the
mystery dinner had left Blyth
Memorial Hall, a real mystery was
happening at The Book Shop.
Someone broke into the bookstore
through the back and selected nearly
20 books of science fiction and
fantasy.
The owner expressed
disappointment, but added that at
least no one was injured and the
burglar "was neat in his dirty
business."
The yard at Blyth Public School
received two additions when the
Grade I class planted a pyramid
English Oak and a weeping Japanese
cherry to commemorate Arbor Week
and the school's anniversary.
Students at East Wawanosh had a
rock-a-thon to raise funds for their
class trip to Toronto and Evangel
Hall, an inner city mission for street
kids.