HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-09-29, Page 1or's statement fosters new determinatjon
X61
uncil pledged to hold line on taxes
of GoderichDeb
own Council, polled
r Mayor
Shewfelt predicted. a
ing increase" in municipal taxes
ear, indicated Mayor Shewfelt
en deliberately over -exaggerating
ity's financial problems in order to
s thinking toward cutbacks in
vices.
wfelt, in an interview with a London
reporter following the speech in
onday afternoon by Provincial
rcy McKeough, predicted thstown
was going to have to "get back to the meat and
potatoes and leave the fancy programs".
He was reacting to McKeough's announcement
that provincial grants to local governments will
increase this year by only 6.3 per cent, compared
with 10.7 per cent in 1977,
"I don't think he (the mayor) if far out of line,"
said the town's administrator Harold Walls. "I
don't think we're in great shape."
"If we continue on the merry way we have
been going," said Finance Committee Chairman
Bill Clifford, "and continue all the programs
Shewfelt, left, and Jubilee Three
ember Mac Campbell, right, get a
he wheelhouse of a lake freighter
in Bob Fraser, skipper of the
oderich. Fraser was presented a
and pencil set by the town when he
Goderich into harbor Friday
visit from the vessel, named after
the: county seat, was the official Jubilee Three
visit which was delayed from July when it was
hoped the vessel could sail into Goderich and
dock for a day to allow visitors to go on board.
Theship has the Jubilee Three crest painted on
her bow and the dates 1827 and 1977 painted on
the wheelhouse on both sides of her name.(staff
photo)
we have, then indeed people are going to get a bit
of a' shock when they get their tax bills next
year."
But Reeve Clifford isn't prepared to sit back
and let taxes go higher without taking some
drastic steps to prevent it. He said the only way
to meet the situation is to start early to review all
the budgets of committees and boards, looking at
them in detail according to their programs and
their real needs.
EARLY DRAFT BUDGET
"The finance committee is proceeding
basically to bring in an early draft budget, to
have sufficient time to analyze and see where
we're going," said Clifford. "We're aware
everyone's going to have to tighten the belt and
there will have to be some cuts that could hurt
some people."
Clifford also° explained that council really
hasn't got that much control over the total tax
money paid in Goderich. Once county funds and
school board funds are considered, along with,
other fixed costs in the municipality, it may
appear that the finance committee is "Picking
on" certain areas of the budget.
The reeve said he hoped the Huron County
Board of Education was getting the same sort
of indications from the minister of education as
the municipal councils were getting from the
treasurer.
"This has to be a team effort," said Clifford.
Councillor Bob Allen is also hoping the school
board is "cutting their budget accordingly". He
said he was in favor of early budgeting this year
in Goderich so the school board could realize the
scope of the problems being faced in the
municipality.
"There's not going to be any shocking increase
in taxes this year in Goderich," said Allen, "but
some programs may not get off the ground."
Councillor Dave Gower feels the people of
Goderich are ready to accept the fact that even
Gfijd:- rich
some existing programs will have to be limited
or curtailed. He said council has "lots of work to
do" and will have to look at what is actually
required to service the real needs of the people
and build from that base.
"We have to start back at Square one," said
Gower.
'TAXPAYERS UPSET
Councillor Gower said he felt the mayor had
used "poor judgment" by making the kind of
statement he did following the meeting with
McKeough. He said he had heard from many
citizens on Tuesday who expressed their con-
cern. Gower added, "The taxpayers are totally
upset."
"The mayor can't make a prediction like that,
only three-quarters of the way through the
year," said Gower. "I won't believe we're going
to have a shocking increase in taxes. No one
Turn to page 24 •
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1977
25 CENTS PER COPY
Committee surprised by PUC bill
The Jubilee, Three decorating committee
_members. . rased.. 'words like.- `isurprised and
outrageous' when They learned recently that
they had an outstanding Goderich Public
Utilities bill of just under $9.000. The members
haven't officially seen the bill at a meeting but
found out it had been delivered by the PUC to the
committee.
The decorating committee worked up to and
throughout the summer's Jubilee Three
celebrations getting the town ready for•the two
week tii'r.thday.party. The --members, Bob -Alien,
Elsa Haydon and Mac Campbell• arranged for
the red, white and blue hunting that decorated
light standards and buildings around The
Square, they arranged for the welcome signs and
banners at the entrances to town, hung the many
Goderich flags around town and the many Other
decorations that added flavor to the 150th bir-
thday celebration.
Board wants X75 for bingo
Members of the Goderich Recreation and
Community Centre Board will meet with the
Goderich Lions Club to discuss a fee schedule for
the club's Wednesday night bingo in the
Goderich Memorial Arena,
The club used the arena auditorium for weekly
bingo in the past but were forced. to make
alternate arrangements when the arena was
closed. Last year they held the bingo's in the
Legion at a cost of $75.
When the club last held bingos in the arena
auditorium they were charged $50 but the
board now wants to increase that fee to $75. The
Lions asked the. hoard to grant use of the
auditorium on Wednesday nights at a cost of $50
to help the club raise its pledge towards the
arena roof building fund.
Board.memberBob Allen said the recreation
hoard had already made several concessions to
est choice
of hands, Huron County Council
pted a report of the executive.
resented at the regular September
sday in Goderich. The portion of the
caused the controversy was the
x reform in Ontario, In particular
mland. i►
Commission recommends that
ay taxes on their houses and "a
ount of land" surrounding the
r own resources, while 100 per
on the farm buildings and the
paid by the government.
endation of the executive com-
et farmers pay 100 per cent of the
houses and the portion of land
surrounding them, and that farmland, together
with farm huildings he assessed at 100 per cent of
the market value with the farmer paying 10 per
cent of the resulting property tax while the
remaining 90 per cent is paid by the province.
The committee alsoheco.mmended that therehe
a proviso that the farmer he allowed`to pay all or
any portion of the talcs on the farmland and
farm buildings, if he so desires.
The executive cornMit'tee, council was told,
felt its recommendation to give fat''rners the
choice to pay all taxes on all the property would
he some protection for those farmers who had
plans to sell their property for development
purposes. It is • understood that taxes paid' on
farmland by the government are forgivable after
the club over a three-year period to help them
raise the pledge money. Allen said that despite -
the job the club had done for the arena they must
maintain some standards in their rental
agreements to help the arena pay for itself.
"I am not putting down what .the Lions Club
has done for the arena but they are making it
difficult for us and other clubs who have donated
for the -arena and would request future rentals at
cheaper rates." he said, "They will just have to
bear with us and we must keep our standards."
The hoard passed a motion calling for
recreation director Mike Dymond or members 6f
the recreational hoard to meet with the Lions
executive to discuss the auditorium rental issue.
The [.ions club made a $20,000 pledge to the
arena roof fund and then added an additional
$12,000 over a three period in exchange for 100
per cent of the gate receipts from Young Canada
Week.
Much of the work putting up the decorations
was handled by the PUC employees and the bill,
totalling $8,232.28, is for man hours and equip-
ment hours needed to install the decorations. The
hill shows 479 man hours at a cost of 86,140.78, 52
pick up truck hours at $260, 56 hours on the line
truck costing $616 and 1101/2 hours of bucket
truck work costing 81,215.50,
PUC manager Dave Rolston said the PUC sent
the hill to the committee because their ad-
ministrative .system demands that any work
done by. the- employees be offset by a bill showing
who is paying for the work. He said when the
town asks the utility to do some work on town
street lights the PUC does the work and sends the
hill to the town. Rdlston said that he had advised
the decorating comniit.tee that the work the PUC
was asked to do would cost hut added that no one
asked how much. He said he did not know who
the committee figured would he paying the hill.
Turn to page 3 •
Goderich feature
The Prettiest Town in,Canada will he featured
this. Sunday. October 2 at 7 'Cp.m. on TVO's
Ontario Scene. TVO is Channel 2 on cable
television.
The scenes for this show were shot during the
Sesquicentennial events.
Those who miss this special Goderich feature
may view it Thursday, October 6 at 11 p,m. on
Channel 2 (cable).
or rural taxpayers
10 years, providing the farmland remains as
farmland. If, however. the farm is sold for
development purposes. the farmer will he
required to reimburse the government for the
taxes which have been paid on his behalf, up to 10
--'yea''r"•track:
All-properry. will be assessed at market value.
ittva.6 stated. although there is no firm definition
et• just bctvva, firke:t,.4;flue will he determined.
ere is also no'definitinn of what "a reasonable
Mount -of lane' surrounding the farm home will
he.
'+. DEBATE BEGINS •
Paul Steckle, the deputy -reeve of Stanley
Township, led off the discussion by questioning
penalties not stiff enough
th farmer has been ordered by a
Tree Commissioner to stop
nd bn his farm. This particular
s number one by the Ministry of
rces and the cutting of it is
r bylaw 43 of 1974 which is a
t and regulate the destruction of
burning or other means.
vides that only trees of a certain
down, The bylaw doesn't cover
o be cut for use or sale as
diseased trees or trees
ts, wind, ice, fire, etc.; trees of
uality cut to improve the
rowing on locations for
ys or logging trails; or trees
forest stand improvement
dance with good forestry
two acres or more come
he bylaw doesn't interfere
owner to cut trees for his
The Huron County 'Development Committee
noted in its report that the tree commissioners
have reported several infractions of the tree
cutting bylaw in Huron. particularly in the
northern part of the county.
County Council supported a recommendation
that the tree commissioners he given support in
enforcing the bylaw, and that both the owner of
the land and -the person removing the trees he
charged under the bylaw when infractions occur.
The bylaw provides fora maximum fine of $500
and imprisonment of not more than three
months. Deputy -reeve Paul Steckle of Stanley
said this falls "far short of a penalty" and
suggested this part of the bylaw needs to he
updated.
Administrator Bill Hanly said the Ontario
Trees Act provides for a similar penalty of $500,
hut that a proposal is already before government
to have that changed to a maximum penalty of
$5,000 plus the cost of replacing the trees.
Steckle also complained there needs to be
some consultation with the tree commissioners
before permission is granted to clear land in
Huron County. Steckle referred to a case in his
township where "a beautiful little woodlot" was
cut down with the tree commissioners approval.
"The problem was the approval was given in
the Winter," said Steckle who went on to explain
that the land on which the trees were situated
was just not suitable for agriculture purposes.
"The tree commissioner couldn't see that
when there was snow on the ground," argued
Steckle. Council agreed with him that a
recommendation should go to the tree com-
missioners, urging then to consult township
councils or county council before granting
permission to clear land in the future.
in other business, council gave approval for a
zoning change on the south-west corner of
Vanastra from service commercial to industrial.
George Penfold of the county planning depart'
ment said a small boat building bnterpxise is
being considered for that location,
the entire premise of having any or all farm
taxes paid by goverrrmrent.
"1 question whether we want to go this route,':
said Sleckle. "1 dont Think there is a farmer in
this room who wants the government paying his
taxes for him."
Steckle alluded to the present system whereby
Soper cent of the farmer's taxes are re tbursed
-to hint because the government reeoghirN the
fact that farmland ',hotrld not pay for services to
people. Steckle said he agreed that farmland
should not help to•-jr,ay for such services as
education, health, libraries, social services. etc.
but he 'suggested the system of titx deferrals or
reimbursements was not the best solution since
persons who were not really „earning their
livelihood from the fare were also classed- as
farmers and thereby received the special tax
concessions.
"We want to pay our taxes," Stecklc told
council. "Let's get paid for what we're selling
and then we can pay them."
Reeve Bill Elston of Morris Township agreed.
Ile said he didn't like the idea of government
paying any portion of farm taxes since it would
lead to farmers losing control of their own land_
"if government pays the hills, five years down
the road government will he telling us what to do
with our land," predicted Elston. "If we accept
that, we're scl.ling out the County of Huron."
As a general rule,. Elston said, rural and
residential assessment will he up under the new
system, while commercial and industrial
assessment will he down,
Reeve Calvin Ktauter of Rrusse,,ls defended the•
businessmen. Ile said there is "nothing fair
about business assessment" because, Krauter
said. the businessman pays a surcharge on his Classified Page 17-23
hexes regardless of the business he does. Obituaries Page 8A
"I'm not arguing for me alone. i've heard this
complaint for years from husiness people," said
Krauter. "If everybody paid their just tax on
their real property, we'd have the money and the
say so. To 'hell with Hepburn's grants that
started in 19.31."
Reeve Gerry Ginn of Goderich Township said
the Blair Commission had set out to make the
taxation system more equitable for everyone. -
"We all should pay fiur fair taxes, Ginn
agreed. "The system we have today is not fair. it
is outdated and even if the Blair report is im-
plemented, we will have to look hard at all these
things all the time to make sure things have not''
changed. We all agree the more you make, the:
more you should pay. S.,imilarly where land taxes
are concerned, the more you own, the more you
should pay.
ADMINISTRATOR TRIES
TO EXPLAIN
County Administrator Bill Hanly urged council
to look at the Blair report as government tax
reform rather than a ploy to take control of the
pr av'ince's farmland.
"The government isn't taking over the farms,"
said Hanly. "it is new method to get money to
pay for the programs the municipalities are
going to operate."
Hanly explained that while assessment may he
up -10 times over the present rate, the mill rate
would only he one-tenth as much as it is now.
"Just because the system is changed, the
municipalities aren't going to need more money
Turn to page 3 •
Index
Entertainment
Farm
Page 3A -5A
Page 14A'
MARTHA
Page 2A