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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2007-01-03, Page 6• • • ot • r • • • • Page 6 January 3, 2007 • The Huron Expositor Welcoming New Clients • Hair Care Colouring • Textuiing Perms • Styling a • Facial Waxing Advanced foiling techniques PLEASE NOTE NEW HOURS: Tues. 10am - 8pm - Wed. 9am - 1 pm Thurs. 10am - 7pm - Fri. 9am - 5pm Sat. 9am - 1 pm 93 Goderich St. W. Seaforth (519) 527-2900 DEVEREAUX MURRAY LAW FIRM RETIREMENT NOTICE I have retired effective December 31, 2006. I wish to thank all of my clients, each of whom I considered a friend. I feel comfortable turning the page at this time as the Firm is strong (Dave and John) and has always been blessed with an excellent staff, . each of whom I also wish to thank. Kenneth Devereaux Church Services You, are invited to attend these area churches St. Thomas Anglican Church A CoVVegatbr, d he Path d The hbg' Spm Jarvis St. Seaforth 527-1522 Rector The Rev'd Sue Matpus. M Div Sunday, January 7 WORSHIP AT 9:30 AM 'T PARISH KID'S SUDE SHOW HE STORY OF CHRISTMAS" Everyone Welcome Sat. Jan. 6 - Parish Council at 11am Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 527-0982 Sunday School 9:45 am Sunday Worship 11:00 am B&G Club Wed. 7:00 - 8:15 pm Youth Activities Wed. 7:00 pm Pastor Mark Kennedy EVERYONE WELCOME NORTHSIDE UNITED CHURCH 54 Goderich St. W. Rev. John Gould Sunday January 7th Worship 11 am Sermon: "Christ's Baptism & Yours" Sacrament of Baptism. All Welcome. Sunday School & Nursery During Worship St. James Roman Catholic Church Welcomes you 14 Victoria Street, Seaforth 527-0142 Weekend Masses: Sat 5:15 pm Sun. 11:00 am Fr. Chris Gillespie Egmondville United Church Sunday, January 7 WORSHIP 11 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL 10AM First Presbyterian Church Goderich St. W., Seaforth Rev. Henry Huberts Sunday January 7 11:15 am service Sunday School & Nursery Provided. News Campground owners asking for refund on 2006 taxes .Jeff H e u c h e r t 111111.10111.11. As 2006 came -to an end last week, so did the last opportunity for campground owners in Ontario to file an application to court in hopes of reclaiming taxes paid on seasonal trailers in 2006. Campers have been paying property tax on their seasonal trailers since 2004. However, in a recent court case, the Superior Court ruled the act illegal and that the municipality involved must refund the taxes plus interest. The case involves Carson's Camp versus the MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) and the Township of South Bruce Peninsula. The municipality and MPAC have since appealed the decision. President of the OPCA (Ontario Private Campground Association) Mark Lowell said if the appeal is lost and the Superior Court's ruling is upheld, the precedent has been set and other campground owners would have solid ground to base their suits on. Lowell noted that since the Assessment Act stipulates applications to reclaim taxes paid in 2006 must be filed by the end of that year, the OPCA sent out emails to each of its 470 privately -owned and operated campground owners, encouraging them to file suits before the end of the year. "We are trying to ensure that all Ontario campgrounds will be able to claim a refund," he said. al "If the decision remains following the appeal process then Carson's Camp could realize a I refund for their campers in excess of is $200,000. Multiply that refund across the wo more than 800 campgrounds that have been cre assessed in the province and the dollars start C adding up to millions," he added. assr Owner of the Family Paradise Cam ass in Walton, Karl Sehrerock chose to write a lett' per ter to Huron County and MPAC asking for a refund on the 2006 assessments, rather than file a formal suit. "It doesn't make economic sense. Why would I hire a lawyer that's going to cost the $2000 to recoup $1,000?" he said. ' Sehrerock later clarified he is asking to be reimbursed mound $1,500. Only eight of Family Paradise's 170 season- al trailers have been assessed, says Sehrerock, noting that the others have not been taxed based on the MPAC's assessment criteria. While campground owners say the reasons som' g seasonal trailers are assessed and oth- ers lren't has not been made clear, Sehrerock said additions or any other changes that will make the trailer appear more permanent could cause it to be assessed. He said that although the assessments have not been a major issue with his clients, it is "the principle of the issue" that has campers and campground owners upset. "The government has an insatiable need for money, and they have very little respect for businesses," he said, adding that the assess- ments have come from a misunderstanding by MPAC on the differences between seasonal trailers and mobile home camps. The main difference between the two is sea- sonal trailers are left uninhabited over the winter as campground owners will shut off hydro and water to those trailers, while mobile home parks are inhabited year round. Sehrerock said when the assessments began back in 2003, many of his seasonal campers left. eople said, `I'm not willing to do this. I'm ready paying taxes on my house, I'm not ing to pay for my trailer too,'" he said. f the appeal is lost and the original ruling upheld, it is likely campground owners uld reimburse their campers through tax dits onto their seasonal accounts. ampground owners have been fighting the essments since 2003, when MPAC began essing seasonal trailers as if they were manent residences said Lowell He added that in many cases MPAC made assessments without over properly analyzing the campgrounds and understanding the dif- ference betwetrn seasonal trailers and mobile home parks. "Our campers are very unhappy about it," said Lowell. They have to pay provincial sales tax when they pur- chase their trailers; home owners don't. Yet MPAC deems it (their + trailer) a property." Lowell said the appeal process could last until late 2008, possibly even into 2009, at which time, it's unlikely even if the original ruling were upheld, a municipality would have to pay back taxes from 2006. Arid, if the municipality and MPAC do win their appeal, Lowell said the OPCA will have to turn its attention to the municipalities and advocate that they begin providing a service, such as garbage pickupto the taxed campers - just like ny other permanent resident within the municipality. "We're (campground owners are) already taxed for the business we run. This is our livelihood and now the Ynunicipality in some cases is making as much on our campers as we do, and they've done nothing," he said. If you are unemployed or on El Access Professional Resume Develop em nt Interview Preparation Job Seekers & Coaching Club Call today for more information 519-524-2515 519-482-1700 519-235-0471 519-527-0305 519-357-4995 Goderich Clinton Exeter Seaforth Wingham They pro..t h funded In pan by the Government of Caned.. Canada