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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-08-23, Page 1Come in closer and I'll tell you a secret. That's what`Galen Gower, four, seems to be telling his six-year-old cousin Philip Gower. Actually, they were discussing strategy for a follow -the - .•Y leader game at the Goderich wading pool in J.G. Park last Tuesday. (photo by Cath Wooden ) Taxes g f u BY JEFF SEDDON If updated equalization factors are used for next year's tax bills in Huron the county's Urban areas will finally get a break. But that break will be at the expense of the rural municipalities. The equalization factors are used by the county assessment office to bring municipal assessments in linewithcurrent market values of property. The factors were frozen in 1970 and this year that freeze could be lifted and the factors updated to 1978 market values. If that happens urban municipalities will pay a much smaller chunklIf the costs to operate county government and the county education system. The decrease to county towns and villages ' will mean increa'ses' in the ' share townships pay for county services. Goderich will enjoy the largest 'saving if the, new factors are applied and McKillop township will face the largest increase. The county seat will pay $481,495 less if the new factors are used while McKillop will have to come up with an additional $126,782. Other municipalities enjoying savings, are Clinton, $80,087; Exeter, $172,386; Seaforth, $28,250; Wingham; $126,467; Bayfield, $7,557; Blyth, $6,370; Brussels, $15,497; I-Iensall, $49,163; Zurich, $9,102; Hay township $1;743. Those getting hit with a bigger chunk of the costs are Colborne, $22,781; Goderich township, $95,135; Ashfield, $25,259; Grey $83,428; Morris, $95,835; Stanley, $85,9.16; Hullett, $109,467; Howick, $69,994; Tuckersmith, $56,153; Tur- nberry, $14,613; East Wawanosh, $13,201; West in townshi Wawanosh, $58,355; Usborne, $83,240. Despite repeated warnings that the new factors would be applied to tax apportionments next year some township councils are up in arms about the increases. The townships have repeatedly argued that services, in the rural areas cannot be compared to those In urban areas 'and thus the huge tax ,differences are fair. The towns have claimefl the tax system has put them in an unfair position for years and has forced them to subsidize townships for the past decade. Those arguments have not been ignored by the province. Market avalue assessment and equalization factors have been political foot- balls for years. The province, because of the impact market value assessment would have on some residential, tax bills, has not been quick to pass legislation. The result has been a lot of speculation and theory on what new factors would do to residential and farm taxes. The big reason for the sharp increase to rural municipalities is spiraling land costs. Since 1970, when the equalization factors were last applied, land prices in the townships have doubled and tripled. Residential property has gone up in value in that period but not nearly as much. To arrive at new equalization factors county tax assessors study the sales of property in a municipality to attempt to determine market values. The market value is then compared to the assessments of property in that municipality. The market values are then 132 YEAR -34 THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1979 Counci Goderich town council will wait for a report from the finance committe in September before pledging any money to a relief fund to assist tornado victims in Southwestern Ontario. Near the close of the Augu ,so-unsl meeting last Wednesday, councillor Jim Searls raised the point suggesting the town should contribute to the fund to assist the victims. "We should decide if we are going to con- tribute to the fund since the tornado was close to home and could even happen here," Searls said. "They have set up bank accounts for the fund and we have $3,000 in the budget for Founder's Day that was cancelled." Council also received' two letters from disaster relief funds to aid flood victims in Northern Ontario. One letter of request came from the Sudbury region asking for assistance with the estimated one half million dollars in damages. The second letter requesting assistance was from the West Carleton disaster relief fund. Despite some differnces ofopinion council decided to refer the matter to the finance committee, asking them to establish a policy concerning such requests. Councillor Elsa .Haydon said the matter should be left with the finance committee and that their policy could apply to all similar situations. Searls claimed the decision to assist the tornado victims should not be left with the finance committee but rather, should be made by council. "They need the money now, so let'sset.an example Like Stratford," he said. Councillor Stan Profit said he echoed many of Searls sentiments but insisted the finance committee should develop the policy first. he. waits 35 CENTS PER COPY S stacked against population figures to deter- mine how much money that municipality .should raise as its fair share of coy my costs, The increases in farm taxes will then relfect an increase in the market value of farms. Property taxes will increase comparable to the increased market value of the farm. Increases in farm taxes will not all come out of the farmer's pocket however. Farmers get half their property taxes back from the government in the form of a direct provincial grant which according to county clerk Bill Hanly will make the tax hike less of a burden on farthers:. But while that grant helps appease taxpayers township councillors are still angry. They are faced with raising more capital and have little choice but to increase mill rates. The province has no intention of turning a blind eye on townships. Any townships not happy with their increase can appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board by November I to argue their case. But town clerks are confident all the 'townships can do is lament over their situation. They feel the new tax ;ap- portionments are fair and that rural municipalities are finally carrying their share of the load. But the province has indicated it may take some pressure off township councils by in- troducing phase in legislation. The phase in would allow the townships to catch up to the equalization factors by spreading the increase over four or five years. That proposal. doesn't sit well• with urban politicians and clerks. A$. Goderich town clerk Larry McCabe said phase in is "not fair". McCabe asked "why should we (towns) suffer another four or five years when we've already suffered for nine years?" Not done yet. Work on the connecting link project in Goderich may not be over yet. Last Wednesday council entertained a letter from a Ministry of Transportation and Com- munications engineer, who claimed the traffic lights at the five points would have to be upgraded. . Engineer L. E. Authier said the wiring of the traffic signals would have to, be upgraded to ensure proper operation. The Ministry has set aside $10,000 as its share:. of the cost of the project • 0r report to donation believed they would not turn a dean ear to such won't be the last." requests for assistance. ' Councillor James Magee disagreed with that "If we get around to giving money to the fund reasoning and suggested, even if there was later if could start a re -interest in donations," shortage_o_f razone.�r at the counci.L_..l.eve'l.,._ a he said. Right now , ag there is moa, ing in donation should be made.. from everywhere to that fund. We must have a "We would be well ait11•'ised to pledge moeny policy because this is not the first request and it to the fund, they need it and it is well deserved, he said. " Even if we don't have the .money six months from now," she stated. "With the immediately" , it can be pledged and raised number. of requests we get we just can't go later.donatin money! willynil,ly.." Reeve-"E`i'lFeii 'Palmer claimed she agreed Council voted.in favor -of. referring the matter with the philosophy but could not see any to the fi„nanee" ;committee. and' their policy urgency to the request. regarding donations . to such funds will be "The money for that fund will still be needed presented at the September 10 council meeting. bjection lifted, Borg-Warner set to go 'The Goderich Economic Development Committee learned last Thursday that there is really nothing to stop Borg-Warner Limited from developing in Goderich's Industrial Park. Town Clerk, Larry McCabe told the com- mittee that the only objection holding up the industrial zoning for Borg-Warner's property here has been withdrawn. The name of the objector was nqt released but McCabe said the concern had centered on the proposed -type and design of the building: . Borg-Warner, an automotive related in- dustry, bought 22 acres in the Industrial Park three years ago for about $45,000 with the agreement that it begin putting its plans into action by 1980. However, the town has not heard from the firm in 18,months. President. of the Borg-Warner plant in Burlington, Desmond Donaldson, says the company is still planning to develop in Goderich but h -as no.. plans to release now. He added that the firm has had to lay off Workers and is considering further 'layoffs because of the recent decline in the , North -American automotive industry. He feels that the auto industry's problems are short-term though: Considerable discussion' concerning the selling price of land in the Industrial Park took place amongst committee members with Bruce Sully and a few of the other members indicating that perhaps a promotion of what the Town of Goderich has to offer should be looked at by the committee. . Sully said he felt that there should be more positive thinking and a selling job on the town with regards to it being a good place to live. He said the life style should be emphasized and the uniqueness which town has should also be emphasized. In short, it should be said that Goderich is a good place .to live which also results in a good place -to work. The town is selling lots in the partially ser- viced Industrial Park for $5,000 an acre. Committee members were told that this price doesn't cover the town's costs and chairman DaveGower suggested they cbnsider...in . creasing'it, _ _ _suggested "That doesn't mean we want to price it out of the market...but at $5,000 an acre they (in- dustrialists) think we are giving it away." Member Gus Chisholm reminded the com- mittee that Goderich isn't on the Toronto, Montreal and Detroit transportation corridor and will have to work 'harder to find industry. He said the dollar value of the property may not be as important as the benefit received by the town through increased jobs and taxation. "Let's give it away- if we,have to to capture new industry," he said. Following the discussion with regards to the selling price of land, Chairman. Gower in- formed committee members that he would Turn to page 16 PUC discriminating? BY CATH WOODEN A recent complaint by Goderich town councillor Elsa Haydon to the Public Utilities' Commission has led to some strong sentiments on both sides. Haydon has taken offence against the PUC's policy of demanding a higher deposit for utitlities from new tenants of certain addresses in_Goderich...__ -.. _.... ..-_. .. .. The PUC charges a $90 deposit from everyone who rents accommodation in the town. This deposit is to ensure that the PUC is not out any money should the tenant -decide to leave town and not pay his bill. There are f6tir addresses in Goderich that the PUC . has "blacklisted"; . that is, their inhabitants have a tendency to skip town without paying their utilities bill. As a result, the commission is charging a$100 security deposit against utilities from all new occupents of these four apartments. When the occupent leaves, the deposit is returned, as is the $90 deposit returned to other tenants when they leave. - Haydon feels that this practise is unethical on the PUC's part. "We are removed from the ombudsman here and there are some that take advantage of that. Turn to page 16 All kinds of people eat ice cream cones, but not all people go about eating them the same way. Mr. Cool on the left licks his secretly in the privacy of his car. The next man seems to be discussing something with his ice cream. This lady throws caution to the wind and attacks hers head on. Why does the next young T. lady seem sad? erhaps she doesn't want to destroy her cone's beauty. The last fellow seems to be trying to get the whole thing In his mouth in one bite.