Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-12-19, Page 25Q1. DEI ICH SIGNAIATAR, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19,1984 --PAGE 7AN1 sndiM at Queeti's Park BX'JACK .IiliJi 11 I,f,, MPI It is Sometimes difficult to understand tie .priQrit4es of gover'nMent when one delves into th,g expenditures of x ars' money: In a,$peech to the Le stature, I expressed my concerns about th millions of dollars of taxpdyers' money silent on political patronage. I .intend to pursue as well the expenditure of money on "Government Hose lity", particularly during this period of ret dint when government resources are stret hed to the limit. In the fiscal year 1982/83, the Ontario Conservative Government spent $474,318 for hospitality alone. Examples of lunches, dinners and receptions will be of interest, I'm sure, to the people of Ontario who foot the bill: , - Canadian ..Broombail " Championships - LUNCH -$3,703; - Canadian Limousine Association Meeting - DINNER - $2,000; - Canadian National Smallbore Rifle' Championship - BANQUET - $1,350; - General Alexander Haig - LUNCHEON - $2,710 ; - Grey Cup - LUNCHEON - $9,951; - International ,Association of Pupil Personnel Workers Convention - DINNER - $2,151; - International Squash Racquets Federation Meeting - DINNER. - $1,200; - Our Plug in the World - LUNCHEON - $1I200. n the fiscal year 19$3/84 the same government spent $380,523 on various luncheons, dinners and receptions. Some notable examples are as follows: - Michael Kirby Appointment to the Senate - DINNER -$1,346; - Genie Awards 1984 - BRUNCH - $2,500; - Institute for Ultimate Reality and Meaning -LUNCHEON - $723; - International Association of Approved Basketball Officials - DINNER - $2,000; mow The Grade 2 and 3 students of St. Joseph's Community School in Kingsbridge performed two - Ombudsman of Ontario - FAREWELL dances during the school's annual Christmas concert held Monday evening. Here, some of DINNER -$6,326; those students are shown getting in step during rehearsal. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) - Ombudsmen of Ontario - ,SWEARING-IN RECEPTION - $7,850; - Planetory Initiative Congress - WINE AND CHEESE - $1,000; - Track and Field Association Multi -Cultural High Jump Event - DINNER - $500; To put these expenditures in proper context, the government will nickel and dime the workers of hospitals and nursing homes, telling them to forfeit their lunches and coffee breaks while at the same time delaying aid for Ethiopia, and yet it can afford to throw money away on lunches, dinners and receptions that have no benefit to the taxpayers of this province, or any other jurisdiction, for that matter, which is in need. Provincial Auditor Douglas Archer released his report to the Public Accounts Committee this week. The report revealed that the Ontario government is spending $14.2 million more a year than it should on bUEENdS) PARK drugs. The overspending is the iesuit of in- flateddrug prices paid to pharmacists by the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan. Other instances .of wasteful spending in- clude: -The Ministry of Health spent $84,000 to have 102,000 copies of a government .OHIP handbook printed, then threw them all out because the handbook contained too many errorsi- . "-Former ' Industry and Trade Minister Gord Walker, now Provincial Justice Secretary, spent $15,925 redecorating his of- fice without obtaining the necessary cabinet approvals. The project was halted. - A branch of the Ministry of Community and Social Services has 58 consultants work- ing for it, compared to only 27 full-time staf- fers. One consultant has been associated with the, Ministry on a nearly continuous basis since 1975 with a current,pay scale of $400 per'7'/A hour day. - An OPP telecommunication project, ex- pected to cost $24.4 million four years ago, is now expected to cost $70 million and b still, being tested. - The Liquor Control Board of Ontario , spent more than $25,000 hiring a consultant to duplicate work that had already been done by another government ministry. - Employees in the Water and Air Resources Branches of the Ministry of the Environment routinely use their own cars for governing* travel and charge for- , mileage while/the Ministry's own fleet of vehicle stands idle.- In one case, it was stated by tfie Auditor, an employee logged 37,924 km in an eight -month period and -hit taxpayers for $7,099 in mileage. - The Qntario Youth Employment Pro- gram paid out more than $200,000 in claims to employers filed after the deadline the government had set for applications. Archer said he has two major concerns, regarding wasteful spending. The first is the province I'has not yet developed a sound system for making sure it gets value for money from the $18 billion a year it makes in transfer payments to municipalities, schoolboards, hospitals, and other organizations. His second major concern is that many civil servants are failing to comply with the Province's manual of administration when it comes to tendering public contracts. iimewom aa..w.u.uuIu au.i.■ • , Marco Island, Florida. • • If You'reLooking ■ For A • • •Vacation Paradis, • We SYou • • Cut It out. 1111 Sea Winds is located directly on Marco Island's III 3% mile crescent beach. l'.ach residence, full 111 furnished and equipped, offers a panoramic III viers of the Gulf of Mexico. 111 OnIs 52 Holes south of Ft. Miers Regional Airport ■ • and 104 utiles due west of Banti. • Sea Winds Beach Resort of Marco 111 1 1 1 1 1 1111 890 S, Collier Blvd. Marco Island, Florida 33937. In Florida Phone 813/642-6262. Phone Toll' Free 1-800-237-4155 or mail coupon. Please send me more information and rates. Name ■ ■ • • ■ • ■ •■ ■ ® • • • • ■ • ■ • • ■ • Add rens ■ Cit. _ State 'Li --- I\ • aderich SIGNAL= STAR a., The Grade 4, 5 and 6 students of St. Joseph's Community School in Kingsbridge performed the play, `Pandora's Perilous Predicament', during the school's annual Christmas concert held Monday evening. A scene from the play is shown here. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) PROPERTY ASSESSMENT and your 1985 Municipal and School Taxes Regional Offices located throughout Ontario are responsible for assessing all real property for the purposes of municipal and school taxation. The resulting Assessment Rolls are delivered to municipalities which use them to set their mill rates and compute municipal property tax bills. .The amount of property tax you pay on your home or business depends on, the assessed value and the mill rate set by your municipality. The assessed value multiplied by the mill rate will determine your 1985 property taxes. Open House Sessions Open Houses are your opportunity to fully understand your assessment and to evaluate its equity. Open Houses are held In every municipality at convenient times and locations. to provide you with the opportunity to discuss your assessment with stall of the Regional Assessment Office. An assessor will be pleased to explain the basis of your properly assessment and Is authorized to amend any information as may be necessary prior to the delivery of the Assessment Roll to your municipality If you have any questions but are unable to attend the Open House, please contact -your Regional Assessment Office al the address or telephone number shown below Assessment Notice Property owners and tenants will receive an Assessment Notice only if information regarding their property or assessment was changed during the past year. if the assessqnent was appealed lastiyear. or if the property has been t assessed under section 63 of the Assessment Act If you recei,ya an Assessment Notice. it may reflect changes y euhave requested in your school support designation. iri the amount of your assessed value, or other recorded information on last year's Notice. Bayfield Village Stanley Township Goderich Township Colborne Township Blyth Village Hullet Township Ministry of Revenue Appeal Procedure 11. alter attending your local Open House, you are still dissatisfied with your assessment, you have a right 90 appeal It to the Assessment Review Board. The Assessment Review Board conducts informal hearings and Is responsible for determining whether the assessment under appeal is lair and equitable with the assessments of similar properties in the vicinity or neighbourhood. and may alter your assessment accordingly. Appeal Deadline The final date for appealing your assessment is January 9. 1985. Your appeal must be forwarded, either on a Notice of Appeal Form or as a letter. to the Regional Registrar of the Assessment Review Board on or before January 9. 1985. noting your property address, Roll Number and the reason for the appeal. To assist you In this regard. Notice of Appeal forms and the address of the Regional Registrar of the Assessment Review Board are available al Open Houses. your Regional Assessment Office, or your municipal office Schedule of Open Houses Dates Times Dec. 20184 1 pm to 7 pm Dec. 20184 1,prn to 7 pm Dec. 20/84 1 pm tan? pm Dec. 20184 1 pm to 7 pm Dec. 20184 1 pm to 7 pm Dec. 20184 1 pm to 7 pm Locations Municipal Office, Bayfield Municipal Office, Bayfield Assessment Office, 57 Napier St., Goderich Memorial Hall, Blyth Memorial Hall, Blyth Regional Assessment Office+— Huron -Perth 57 Napier Street, Box 190 GODERICH, Ontario N7A 3Z2 Telephone: (519) 524.7326 Zenith: 66500 SPECIAL OLIDA HOURS: CHRISTMAS n. %•A' • Open...Monday, Dec. 24th Closed...Tuesday, Dec. 25th and Wednesday, Dec. 26th Open...Thurs. & Fri., Dec. 27th & 28th 8:30 am to 5:00 pm NEW YEAR'S Open...Monday, Dec. 31s1 Closed...Tuesday, Jan. 1st, 1985 Open...Wed. thru. Fri., Jan 2nd to 4th 8:30 am to 5:00 pm ADVERTISING, EDITORIAL & CLASSIFIED DLIN • •+f. l�ln, Please make note of our Special• —For The Wednesday, December 26th Issue All advertising. editorial and classified copy must be in no later than 12:00 NOON...FRIDAY, DEC. 21 For The Wednesday, January 2nd Issue 12:00 NOON...FRI DAY, DEC. 28. We would greatly appreciate It if advertising. editorial and classified vyant ad material could be in our office by THURSDAY' porter to that weeks publication if at all possible! • i�l�/'i. A.'� f' . ��.4.1-\-1,74,, , �✓!r Ir.. ti� r— tn,,,r II. � • IIIA I I� Iri T!ank You '' or Your Cooperation! \ THE GODERICH SIGNAL-STAR 1