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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-09-06, Page 2S -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Soptomber S, 1f11$ News and Views Hard tax choices face Seaforth Seaforth's municipal mill rate is lower now than it was in 1991. It will soon take some fancy footwork by our elected officials for the situation to continue. Odds are financial belt - tightening by higher levels of government will leave local politicians with some hard choices in 1996. Service in Seaforth should remain intact for 1995 but "a lot of cuts will affect us next year and it is going to be tough," says Administrator Jim Crocker. Ontario's new Progressive Conservative government floated a strong hint at a recent get-together of this province's municipal politicians that grants will soon be reduced by 20 per cent. All provincial grants were frozen when the new government took office and that has left municipalities in a sort of limbo, Crocker says: "I am not convinced the province can shut down, or at least appear to be shut down, for that length of time... a 20 per cent reduction of what?" If the province is talking about a one-fifth reduction in unconditional, specific and annual grants that will translate into about $90,000 less for Seaforth based on the figures in last year's budget," the administrator says. , In a worst-case scenario local politicians would have to raise taxes by about 11 per cent to maintain the level of service .we now enjoy. The politicians will probably have to wrestle with some "happy medium", Crocker says. Seaforth received about $312,000 in unconditional grants, $66,000 in specific grants and another $45,000 in annual grants from Ontario last year. The grand total was ap- proximately $450,000 - 20 per cent of which equals about $90,000. Options local politicians might have to examine include staffing levels; the possible reduction of all types of ser- vice, for instance, snow removal ( Do you send the plows out with 5" of snow rather than, say, 3"?), special programs, recreation, capital projects, or letting standards slide for such specifics as sidewalks, or reducing grants. In most cases basic. registration fees now don't cover the municipality's costs, so politicians may consider increasing these, Crocker says. An increased reliance on user fees, in such areas as arena ice time for various teams, might be bandied about as another option. Seaforth handed out a total of about $17,000 in grants to various agencies during the 1994 fiscal year, for instance to the local agricultural society or Santa Claus parade or Lion's Pool. None of this figuring takes in further federal cuts which have been hinted as coming down the pipe, which would then percolate down to provincial and municipal levels in a process that has now entered our everyday language as a new word - "downsizing". Crocker says Seaforth and some surrounding municipalities have been "doing more with Tess" for Demolition derby returns to Clinton The demolition derby is such a Spring Fair favorite in Clinton the Huron Central Agricultural Society has scheduled another for this autumn. The fundraiser is planned for the grandstand at Clinton Community Park on Sept. 29. Serviceman returns from exotic locales O.S. Kevin Dick arrived home Wednesday, August 23, 1995 from Victoria, British Columbia. He just returned from such places as Hawaii, Tonga, New Zealand, Sydney and Brisbane, Australia for public relations. He returned to Victoria September 9, 1995. People Mrs. Chas. McLean of Guelph, formerly of Goderich spent labor Day weekend with Mr. and Mrs. Dyke Wheatley of McKillop. years but there comes a point when you cut so close to the bone the actual skeleton, or infrastructure, is seriously threatened. "We are close to that now," he says. "The question is where will we get the resources, money and time. "Time is the biggest thing... You can deal with a crisis but there are days when we sit at our desks and are overwhelmed by the volume of work." Seaforth began a strategic planning process earlier this ear which am . n lives aims to make Council more open and a place citizens feel more comfortable, the administrator says. - Many taxpayers grumble, he adds, but many also wonder 'What can we do about it anyway?' Planning is difficult when municipalities don't know exactly where they stand amidst the posturing of politicians at higher levels. Crocker says limbo should end in a couple of weeks. The Ontario • government has in- dicated it will reveal funding levels by September 15. At least the province appears to be making an "honest at- tempt" to give municipalities plenty of notice cuts are on the way, rather than after budgets have been set, Seaforth's ad- ministrator adds. A move is also afoot, provin- cially to co-ordinate and thereby improve provincial and municipal budgeting and ac- counting by bringing "year ends" into line. Ontario's "year end" is in March. The end of the financial year for municipalities like Seaforth is every December. MALCOLM GRAY Imam Brokers s ALLAN CARTER, BROKER • HOME • FARM •AUTO • COMMERCIAL SEAFORTH 522-0399 strathro 0-265-09 1-80 59 McMaster Siemon AINSURANCE BROKERS INC. AVM — 11§01112 FARA��II��— DZBAI EL CO(jj' W IEEE llIV 111LWAR CE PJOKERS AUL SIEMON VICKI SI MON AMITE McTAGGART DAN PROCTOR 68 Ontario Rd. 348-9150 Mitchell 1-800-561-0183 AVID WOODWORKER - Dave Sim of Side Street in Seaforth poses with the stagecoach he recently fashioned in his bedroom workshop. Local man active woodworker Not everybody has a table and jig saws in their apartment bedroom. But Dave Sim of Side Street in Seaforth does. He admits it is kind of unusual to have a shop in your house. "I've got a good vacuum cleaner," the 80 -year-old who has lived here since 1951 explains. When he retired from car- pentry 15 years ago people said he'd be bored. He says he hasn't been because ideas for these little projects keep coming out of his head. His latest creation is a tiny wooden stage coach, complete with tiny wooden westem figurines, which he proudly displayed last week. He also recently completed a wooden wishing well for the lady that comes in and helps him with the cleaning and straightening up. Things can get kind of clut- tered when you are living on your own. Past projects he has fashioned include a chuck wagon and reindeers, among many others. Sim was born in Peterhead, Scotland in 1915. His wife, who died in 1990, emigrated to Canada with him. Their four children, three boys and a girl, live in Cambridge, London, Stratford and Exeter. He honed his woodworking skills working in Clinton, Win- gham and Sarnia before getting a carpentry job at Douglas Point, where he worked for many years until his retirement. "Thanks for coming," he says. "Many of the people I tell AUTO SERVICE Congratulations to our Grand Opening Draw Winners! Superior BBQ - Mike Hodgins Case of Pepsi & Hat - Jin1 Stoll Case of Coke & Hat - Judy Poland Bumstead Fuels - Girls' Book Bag -- Amanda Van Miltonburg Bumstead Fuels -Boys' Book Bag - Cathy Dalrymple Pepsi T -Shirt & Hat - John Bjerg UAP T -Shirt & Hat -- Jeremy McNichol Vernors T -Shirt & Hat - Grant Bradley Fram Jacket & Hat -- Jay Ross SM Screwdriver Set & Hat -- Bill Brown SM Screwdriver Set & Hat - Jamie Bennewies SM Screwdriver Set & Hat -- Frank Philips Drink Holder & Hat - Bev Coleman Hat & Canadian Map - Mary McClure Hat & Canadian Map - Winston Powell Hats, T Shirts and Scredriver Sets were all donated from UAP, Bunstead Fuels, Quaker State & Mueulensteen. New E 1 llalid Grill Special ik I l•C1l / ( )R1)/ i 1l1 ti! 23 Goderich Street, East, Seatorth 527-1200 about it say they'll come over and see - but they never do." The Office 'win now be open on Wednesday mornings. Mon. 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. hies. 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Wed. 8:00 a.m. -12 noon Thurs. 1:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Kim Preszcator, R.M.T., will continue her regular hours doing Massage Therapy Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. WHITE BEAN SATELLITE DEALER At LAC we are expanding on our commit- ment to support local agricultural produc- ers. We have been appointed a satellite dealer in WHITE BEANS for THE GREAT CANADIAN BEAN COMPANY, the bean professionals. By combining our service with their exper- tise we will strive to provide the same type of added value that has won your patron- age in other commodities. We welcome your enquiries and support. Dan, Jim, ,John, Herman usedrSEAFORTH THEG CANADIA london agricultural commodities, inc. BEA 13 Crombie St. — 527-1241 See our new line-up of FALL FASHIONS Novelty SWEATERS (Hand-knit Teachers, Nurses, Farm Animals and Teddy Bears) The latest designs in Dresses, Suits, Blazers, Pants, Skirts, Blouses, Sweaters and so much more. SHOP AT ANNA'S IN SEAFORTH and for your fall savings... > ENIMJEANS. ',o: •1'SWAI a\ 41•'*4.•'..16,'w'f'i•'w'*'a'dilide.