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Page 6 January 3, 2007 • The Huron Expositor
Welcoming New Clients
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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
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Goderich
Clinton
Exeter
Seaforth
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