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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-04-05, Page 5News and Views Board approves whopping tax hike BY AMY NEILANDS The Huron County Board of Education on Monday set their budget estimates for 1995 at $62,027,228, resulting in a tax increase $56.1Q for the average Huron County taxpayer. Items impacting the almost 10 per cent increase in the mill rate include such provincially imposed factors as the equalized property assessment for education increase of 2.3 per cent, the standard mill rate increases of just under 3 per cent, board and program specific grant reductions of about S300,000, benefit cost increases, tuition fee payment losses of about $350,000 and an increased interest charges on capital pro- jects. These budget factors are the result of the Ministry of Education's attempt to tum the greater share of education costs on the taxpayers. These increases alone would have resulted in a $74 increase in property taxes based on the aver- age Huron County property assessment of $60,000. The $74 increase was turned down by trustees at the April 3 regular meeting of the HCBE. At a special budget meeting held on March 28, trustees requested that the administration look for reduc- tions in capital spending and any other measures to reduce the 1995 estimates. Reductions in the 1995 estimates came from a $300,000 deferral of new science labs at F.E. Madill in Wingham, along with deferrals in Madill administration renovations and Madill library carpet. Funding was also taken from elementary Paul Carroll HCBE Director facility reserves for Vanastra Public School renovations. "The job would get done," said Director of Education, Paul Carroll adding that it is just a change in the way the renovations are funded. More "belt tightening" came from a deferral of additional plant and Special Education mainten- ance of $50,000, a deletion of Secondary Pay Equity contingency of $35,000 and a combined total extraction from salary lines of $158,000. These, along with other reductions, reduced the impact on taxpayers from an increase of $74 to $56.10 per year. The board noted that there were not any significant reductions that could be made without impacting students and programs. A motion was made to accept all reductions except the deferral of the science labs at F.E. Madill. Trustee Joan Van Den Broeck felt that proceedings should be made on the science labs. "We have an ethical responsibility to do so," she said, adding there are con - New life for Cents It looks like the Seaforth Centenaires will be around for the 1995-96 season. The call for new volunteers seems to have been successful. At Wednesday night's Junior Development team, a new executive was named. New members were welcomed by David Murray, director and former Centenaires captain. "Thanks for the support new people. It was looking dismal for a while," said Murray. The new executive for the Centenaires includes Wayne Wiggins, president • (subject to acceptance); Pete Martene, first vice; Norma Gemmell, second vice; Karsten Carroll, secretary; Catherine Wick treasurer; Nancy Anstett, Nevada coordinator; Adelaide Mclnally, Booster Club president; and directors, Martha Smith, Gerard Ryan, Jim Campbell, Mike Kelly, Jen Watt, Paul McLlwain, David Murray, Trent Ward, Dave Scott, Graham Nesbitt. Last year's annual minutes were read by Jen Watt. The financial report was given by Shelley Nigh. A report on Nevada tickets was Seaforth Police Chief warns of mail scam Seaforth Police Chief Hal Claus warns local residents to beware of slick -looking advertisements that may arrive in their mail. " Remember, if it sounds too good to be. true - it obviously is too good be true," he cautions. Chief Claus used a professional - looking advertisement recently mailed to a local resident as an example. Headlined with the words "PREMIUM RELEASE", it holds out a guarantee of receiving up to $5,000 cash, with the catch of "all you have to send is $29.99 plus 7 per cent GST.", no registration number provided, to a post office box in Montreal. In bold capital letters at the bottom of the enticing offer, to an alleged select few, are the words: "THIS NOTICE IS SENT ONLY TO GUARANTEED PREMIUM RECIPIENTS. IT IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANYONE ELSE". The Police Chief says such scams prey particularly on the elderly, odds are you'll never see your money again if you fall for it, and if only a tiny percentage of people respond to such advertisements the profits are still considerable for whoever picks up the mail at these hard -to -track post office boxes far away. He adds with the many recent advancements in word processing and computer technology, it is a relatively easy thing to produce such professional looking promises. "I as your Chief of Police warn you not to fall for this type of personal solicitation," Claus says. "The only person who would benefit would be the individual you send your money to." presented by Tracy Sills. There are four boxes of tickets left, from 20, remaining to be sold. A license renewal will have to be made when the final tickets are sold. A review of the preparations for the upcoming awards banquet on April 9 at 4 p.m. was completed. No decision on next season's coaching staff and trainer will be made until after the annual banquet. Karsten Carroll speculated that an equipment manager for the team would save a lot of money, perhaps, as much as $1,000. Paul McLlwain and Trent Ward -put forward tiieli' names to be in charge of team equipment together. A special committee, which has already been formed, is organizing the slo-pitch tournament to be held from Friday .,vening until Sunday afternoon at both the Lions and Optimist parks during the Home- coming '95 weekend in August. Interested teams should contact Karsten Carroll regarding registra- tion. Anyone interested in helping with the tournament can contact members of the executive. ceras for the health and safety of students. Other trustees shared these concerns as well as concerns that if projects like the science labs were deferred, future costs would be much higher. The motion was defeated due to a tie vote. A third motion was made to accept all suggested reductions. 'The administration isn't coming in with anything unrealistic," said Trustee Doug Garniss in support of all the reductions that would result in an impact of $56.10. "These savings at this point are realistic and achievable." "I feel comfortable with all those changes," said Vice -Chair Allan Carter. Trustee Bea Dawson asked if it was possible for the board to debenture the Vanastra and Goderich District Collegiate Insti- tute ventilation project but Carroll said that was not possible at this time. "We're debt free...we've been penalized for being frugal again," said Dawson. The HCBE was penalized and blamed for the tax increases last year by Minster of Education Dave Cooke, said Chair Roxanne Brown adding that the board is not going to be thanked for reduc- ing the impact form $74 to $56. She suggested that if the impact remained at $74, the taxpayers would not be faced with such a large increase next year. "I feel all we can do is represent the ratepayers," said Garniss, stating that an increase of 12.5 per cent was more than the taxpayers can afford. The reductions were accepted and the 1995 estimate will be set at $62,027,228. Members of local municipal coun- cils in Huron County, along with concerned residents, attended a special public information meeting hosted by the Huron County Board of Education (HCBE) to inform those in attendance how education funding takes place and to clarify who sets the tax rate. "We have very little to do with setting the. mill rate," said Director of Education Paul Carroll. Setting the mill rate is done, in part, for the municipal sector by local councils, but in the school board sector, the Ontario government determines the largest amount of the mill rate, "not the local board," he added. The Ministry of Education deter- mines "recognized spending levels" and sets the minimum property tax level. This is achieved through changes to the Ontario Grant Sys- tem which over the past number of years has been cut in Ontario's share. The split of 60 per cent Ontario/40 per cent local has been reversed and Ontario's share still declines. In 1994, the HCBE reduced expenditures by over $4 million. This was the largest reduction in expenditures ever faced by a local board and taxes still went up six per cent. Estimates for 1995 have been flat -lined at 1994 spending levels and taxes are still expected to rise. One member of the audience felt that the system should be abolished if the board had such little input and felt that the board should lobby the government for changes to the system. WEST WAWANOSH MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY Dungannon, Ontario INSURANCE FOR FARM, RESIDENTIAL,COMMERCIAL & AUTO 1 YOUR LOCAL AGENTS Frank Foran, Lucknow 528-3824 Lyons & Mulhern, Insurance Broker Ltd. Goderich, 524-2664 Donald R. Simpson, Ripley, 395-5362 Chapman Graham & Assoc. Owen Sound, 376-1774 Delmar Sproul, Auburn, 529-7273 Clinton, 482-3434 City Insurance Offices Limited Sarnia, 383-0044 Kenneth MacLean, Paisley, 368-7537 McMaster Siemon Insurance Brokers Inc. Mitchell, 348-9150 John Nixon, Brussels, 887-9417 PA. Roy Insurance Brokers Clinton, 482-9357 Banter, MacEwan, Feagan Insurance Goderich, 524-8376 Georgian Bay Insurance Brokers, Owen Sound 376-4049 Towne Insurance Brokers, Kincardine, 396-9513 Chapman Graham Insurance Brokers Walkerton, 881-0611 Orr Insurance Brokers Inc. Strafford, 271-4340 "NEIGHBOUR HELPING NEIGHBOUR" SINCE 1879 THE HURON EXPOSITOR, April 5, 1995-5 ot 00A 0 n h ' 4 N A V Seaforth Golf & Country Club will be accepting memberships for the 1995 season starting April 1st EARLY BIRD RATES IN EFFECT UNTIL. APRIL 9, 1995 ADULT early bird: $424.26 ADULT regular rate: $456.36 COUPLES early bird: $671.96 COUPLES regular rate: $736.16 tNC CAARRDLS D FAMILY RATE = COUPLE RATE PLUS & FAXES $111.82 FOR FIRST JUNIOR 18 AND UNDER (includes card & taxes) $58.32 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL JUNIOR 18 AND UNDER $156.76 FOR FIRST STUDENT 19 OR OVER (includes card & taxes) $135.36 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL STUDENT 19 OR OVER • JUNIOR: • $173.88 STUDENT: $227.38 l Save up 50% on shoes (and other accessories) Sale starts April 4th PRO -SHOP OPENS APRIL R.R. #4, Seaforth, Ontario (519) 522-0985 Chick Days at Milton J. Dietz Ltd. Order Pickup April 11 May 12 May 9 June 9 Vaccinated Chicks Goslings, Ducklings Turkey Poults 522-0608 Refreshments Care and feeding recommendations shavings, waterers, feeders, heat (amps and the best in Purina feeds X X SEEIFORTII 131fl'S EEISTER EGG FWMT.. SRT(JRDEIY, RPRIL 15t 10 FM VICTORIA PARK for Pre-schoolers - ST. DAMES SCHOOL YARD 6-10 Years Old The Easter Bunny and his friends will be there too! Dads & Moms...R¢mambQr to bring .your camera. ROM OR shine OR snow Sponsored by: Seaforth Business Improvement Association �<