Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1976-08-11, Page 1uiicru© ,NO. 32—FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1976 20c PER COPY Outline fax reform proposals If the property tax changes pro- posed by the provincial govern- ment are implemented, they will have strong effect on every pro- perty owner in Ontario. A W person commission is presently holding public hearings throughout Ontario to get public input on the 15 proposals put for- ward by the government. Such a hearing was held in Goderich on Wednesday. In order to understand just how much the individual person %yill be affected by the changes if incorporated. it is necessary to take a look at the proposals. --- I. . Residences in Ontario, collectively, will hear a reduced share of property .taxes. This does not mean every individual residence tax will he reduced as in the past some have hcen un- dert axed anti may undergo increases. It docs mean at the present time residences collect- ively carry about 50°0 of the total burden of property taxation and this will be reduced. '1'o do this, residences will be taxed at 50"11 of market value while other properties are taxed at 100%, 2. Residential property will be redefined to include only resid- ences and a reasonable amount Of land. At the present such classes of property as vacant commercial and industrial property, vacant land, golf courses, lodges, cubs and conservation authorities are being taxed at residential rates. Under the new proposal these would be taxed at 100"0 of their market value. 3. The present practice of levying different mill rates on residential and commercial pro- perties will be discontinued. Instead there will he a uniform mill rate but it will be levied on different percentages of market -value assessments. 4. Farmland, farm buildings, managed forests and farm resid- ences will be assessed at market value. Farmland. farm buildings and managed forests will be taxed at 1'00"0 of market value and the taxes will be paid by the Province. Farm residences will be taxed as all other residence at 50% of market value. and the taxes will • KRAZY DAYS WINNER—This week's Krazy Days winner is Mrs. Laura Gascho, Zurich. Mrs. Gascho said she did not expect to win the $25 draw, she just wrote her name down and forgot about it. However, she is quite happy to receive the cheque from Ron Heim - rich, president of the Business Association. Photo by McKinley Cons entic erg ran is area The Huron County develop- ment committee have presented a proposal that will provide some incentive for communities to establish area recreation systems with their neighbors. The committee has recom- mended that county council provide an annual grant of up to $1,000, on a matching dollar basis, to each municipality that contributes/to and participates in the,development and continued operation of an area recreation system composed of a minimum of three municipalities. They note that with the ac- ceptance of this proposal, county council will be limiting itself to a maximum annual commitment of $26,.000, provided each of the 26 municipalities agrees to cooperate in the development of an area system. "The onus is clearly on the municipalities to take the initiative and they must also be prepared to invest at least an equal amount of money to the 'area pot' in order to acquire this new county grant," their report stated. The committee is planning three information meetings to discuss the proposal with Huron municipalities. The one involving the area. municipalitiles of Exeter, Usborne, Stephen, Hay, Zurich and Hensall will be held at the Exeter Public Schopl on August 12 at 8:00 p.m. Members of councils and recreation committees have been invited to attend, he paid by the owner. If the land used is changed, the taxes paid on such property wilt be recover- ed by the Province for a period of up to ten years before the change in land use took place. Interest on these taxes will also be charged. 5. All real property used for the purpose of a business, in- cluding government administra- tive facilities will be subject to an additional assessment of 5090 of market value for business tax - Crash total is still low The area accident total was again small this week, with only three investigated by the Exeter ()PP. On Wednesday, a vehicle driven by Janice Spurn, Cen- tralia, was damaged in a single vehicle collision on Fried Street, in Uashwood. Constable Bob Whiteford listed damage at $150. A vehicle driven by David Peter Vanpopelen, Sterling Heights, Michigan, struck a culvert on Thursday, when the driver lost control after a rear tire blew. The mishap occurred on Highwaiy 21 and Constable Frank Giffin set damage at $500. The other crash involved an unknown vehicle which struck a Stone flower box on a private drive off Highway 21. Damage to the flower box was listed at $50. Two thefts were investigated by the police as well this week. On Sunday, James Davidson, Parkhill, reported the theft of his 1969 Chev from the Corbett Community Centre. The vehicle was later recovered after being involved in an accident on con- cession 22 of Stephen Township. The vehicle sustained $400 in damages. Constable Bill Osterloo is investigating, Herbert Zimmerman of the Dashwood Hotel reported to police that his apartment in the hotel had been entered and $170 in cash stolen. Constable Giffin is investigating. During the week, the local detachment officers charged 69 under the Highway Traffic Act, six under the Liquor Licence Act and 12 under the Criminal Code. Also investigated were two disturbances, one dog bite, three thefts, two incidents of cattle on the road, two abandoned vehicles, five wilful damage reports. Cheryl Anne Gingerich, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Ginger- ich, R.R. 2, Zurich, graduated from Conestoga College, Kitch- ener -Waterloo Hospital Nursing Division, and was presented with her diploma July 23. She Is a graduate of South Huron District High School. es. This will eliminate the various percentages that now apply; from 250o for carparks on through to 140% for distilleries. 6. All public property except residences will he :subject to payments in lieu of taxes equal to full taxes at 100% of market value. Public residences will be subject to payments in lieu of taxes equivalent to full taxes at 50% of market value. Public utilities will be subject to busi- ness assessment at 50% of market value. This applies to all (continued on page 2) HURON COUNTY DID NOT submit sion holding public hearings on the property tax change proposals, but Warden Jack McCutcheon did ask a few pertinent questions on behalf of the county. Photo by McKinley a written brief to the commis- ensa sewers a r 500 A bylaw to govern the system to be used in collection of sewer rates by the village of Hensall was passed at Monday's regular meeting. ('.lark I3ob Heil said sewer charge notices would be in the mail Friday of this week. The final payment of 1976 taxes is due on November :30. Earlier in the meeting Heil reported to council that Ministry of the Environment officials would ,be testing the sewer system Wednesday The clerk said he understood only a couple of small leaks were yet to be repaired and the lines would be flushed by high pressure. Paving of disrupted Swine flu not in body Laboratory tests indicate that no virus, including swine in- fluenza, was involved in the death Wednesday of Roger Layton, 33, of Brucefield, Jim Bain, director of communications for the Ontario health ministry, said this week. Mr. Bain said further tests were being performed on body tissue to confirm the findings. Coroner Dr. Raymond Flowers of Goderich said Friday that Mr. Layton died of aspiration pneumonia -- taking vomit into the lungs. It had been thought that Mr. Layton might have died of swine flu after being admitted to hospital Tuesday with chills, fever, and severe chest pains. eady streets is expected to begin almost immediately. Wednesday afternoon, Mike O'Shea of the Environmental Ministry will he meeting with village officials to discuss the takeover of the sewers by the village of Hensall. in other business, council: Agreed to apply for additional grants available from the province of Ontario under the Ilome Renewal Program. Clerk lleil said three projects were already completed, nine programs were underway, four more applications were on hand and two had been withdrawn. Decided the September meeting of council would be held on Tuesday, September 7 at 8 p.m. Authorized clerk Bob Heil to attend a tax collector's seminar in Toronto from September 12 to 15, Agreed that all members of council would attend the Sep- tember 24 meeting of Huron County Council as observers, Officials from the township of Hay and the village of Zurich are invited at the same time. Delegated reeve John Baker and councillors Paul Neilands and Harold Knight to attend the Huron municipal recreation meeting to be held in Exeter tonight, Thursday. Learned that cleanup of the creek area at the Hensall village dump by the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation S.W.E.E.P. crew had been completed. Reeve John Baker commented, "I think they did a good job in clearing the waterway and we should convey our thanks to the Authority."