HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1976-09-29, Page 14Page 14 -Citizens News, September 29, 1976
Jack IItiddell
Treasurer Darcy McKeough,
at a special meeting of the
Provincial Municipal Liaison's
Committee outlined the total
financial transfers that would
be available to local Govern-
ments from the Province in
1977.
In 1976 Provincial revenue
are expected to grow by 19.9
percent. This is an unusually
high growth rate that results
from tax cuts to stimulate the
economy in 1975 followed by
tax increases in the 1976 bud-
gets. These tax increases were
required to reduce the cash
requirements and to maintain
the Province's credit rating and
financial integrity. It is antici-
pated that budgetary revenues
will grow by 8 percent in 1977
while receipts will remain static
to produce an overall growth
rate in Provincial revenues of
7.7 percent for next year.
The best estimate at this date
for the Province's 1977/1978
revenue growth which is shared
with local governments under
the Edmonton Commitment is
only 8 percent. The 8 percent
forecast incorporates $120 mil-
lion in additional sales tax
revenue reflecting the termina-
tion of the exemption for pro-
duction machinery. This exemp-
tion is scheduled to expire as
of December 31st, 1976. Apply-
ing the 8 percent growth rate
to the 1976/1977 commitment
Ievel, provides an amount for
total Provincial transfers of
$3,426 million in 1977/78.
Relating this to the $3,096
million which the Government
expects to transfer during the
current year. This compares
with an increase of $221 million
or 7.7 percent for the current
year. Should the Province's
revenue outlook futher deterior-
ate between now and the 1977
budget, the transfers for the t
next year will be held at the
$3,426 million. By the same
token should revenue move the u
)ther way, the same holds true. a
either case adjustments
ill be made in the following g
year.
The following are some of the
highlights of the distribution T
of transfers for 1977/78.
financial tr
The Province decided to allo-
cate 50 percent of the new funds
to school boards. Such an in-
crease was critical on account of
the continuing cost pressures in
the education system. While
local government is pleased to
receive 50 percent of the in-
crease, there was concern about
education receiving 50 percent
with less children attending
school.
Grants from the Ministry of
Transportation and Communi
cations, will be increased by
$49 million or 10.7 percent.
Because of lower requirements
for the Toronto subway in the
current year, this increase will
permit the Minister of Trans-
portation and Communications
to emphasize the high prior-
ity he sees for greater assist-
ance towards local roads. The
latter will be increased by
13 percent.
Provision ,for transfers from
the Ministry of Community
and Social Services will be
increased by more than 11
percent to $364 million. An
additional $10 million is allo-
cated to Homes for the Aged
while the allocation for Child-
ren's Aid Societies was raised
by $6 million.
The Government decided to
greatly increase its allocation
for the regional priorities pro-
gram. Funds for this transfer
program were increased from
$27 million to $43 -million
next year. It is a program to
shore up the economic potential
of developing communities and
to build the infra structure to
draw industrial development.
Grants from the Ministry
of Culture and Recreation have
been enriched significantly.
The Minister of Culture and
Recreation requested and re-
ceived approval for $8 million
in extra funds in 1976/77 for
his Community Recreation Cen-
tres program. This became
necessary to assist the many
communities with unsafe arenas
to undertake the required re-
paires or to build new arenas.
For next year this program was
further enriched as not nearly
all these problems will be solv-
ed this year.
All the other changes are
airly straightforward. The only
exception to this is the uncondi-
ional grants program. The Pro-
vince over the past few years
has increased the emphasis on
nconditional grants in its
ssistance to municipalities.
n this way Municipalities will
radually gain greater free-
dom to make their own choices
and set their own priorities.
hey can use these funds to
ncrease activities already oth-
Estate Auction Sale
Sat., October 2, 1 p.m.
For the estate of Jacob Gingerich, Goshen St. N. Zurich.
Household, Furniture, Appliances,
Carpenter & Garden Tools, Antiques &
small frame barn (good barn siding to be
removed from property.)
2 door fridge frost free Excellent, Inglis Aut. washer & dryer,
23 ft. deep freeze, 13 ft. deep freeze alum. lined, Sparton Hi
Fi, T.V., Dehumidifier, Chrome set, bookcase, beds & mat-
tresses, davenport, boston & wicker rockers, white enamel
kitchen stove, dressers, trunks, tables, gas lawn mower, elect.
lawn mower, alum. ext. ladder, carpenter & garden tools,
many other items.
SMALL FRAME BARN good barn siding & roof, will be sold
without reserve but must removed from property within one
year.
TERMS OF SALE — CASH
Gerald Gingerich - Sale Director
236-4376
PLEASE NOTE: Estate Sale all bidders register & receive a number.
Sold items the responsibility of the purchaser at end of bidding, if
paying by cheque supply own personalized cheque form from your
bank.
OWNERS OR AUCTIONEER NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR ACCIDENTS DAY OF SALE
Percy Wright, Auctioneer
KIPPEN, ONT. 262-5515
nsfers from province
erwise supported with condi-
tional grants or for completely
different functions. They can be
• used to reduce millrates.
For next year the Ontario
Government has decided to
boost unconditional grants sig-
nificantly. They will be in-
creased by $65 million or 17.5
percent. This enrichment will
raise the proportion of uncon-
ditional grants to total munici-
pal grants from 26.9 percent
this year to 28..2 percent in
1977/78.
The last time the Govern-
ment increased the per capita
grant towards policing costs
was in the 1975 budget. Recog-
nizing the differential cost
pressures in communities that
incur policing expenditures the
Ontario Government decided to
increase this special per capita
grant by 25 percent. This will
raise the $8. rate to $10 per
capita and the $12 rate to $15.00
per capita. A total cost of this
enrichment will be $19 million
next year. Unconditional grants
for regional policing are paid in
nine areas. There is a differ-
ential in rates of this grant for
1977 of $5.00 per capita in
favour of regional governments
with a regional force. It is in-
cumbent upon the regional
governments to ensure that
they do adopt region wide polic-
ing of their own. The Solicitor
General expects to cease pro-
viding regional policing by the
Ontario Provincial Police after
March 21, 1977.
Finally . the Province will
increase all general per capita
grants by $1.00 per capita at a
cost of about $8.5 million. This
will raise the grants from $9
million to $10 in regional
government areas. For non
regionalize municipalities the
per capita grants schedule will
start at $7. instead of $6.00
with the top marginal rate going
from $8. to $9:
There will be no change in
the general support grant which
remains at a flat 6 percent of
prior year local levies. Similarly
the resource equalization grant
will remain unchanged, ex-
cept that the standard for this
grant will be increased from
$10,400 to $10,500 in equal-
ized assessment per capita,
with a maximum grant rate of
25 percent for any munici-
pality.
From a recent survey done by
the Province, it would appear
(continued on page 19)
THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO • DO in the kindergarten room of Huron Centennial and
Monica Gingerich, left has .no problem keeping occupied. Paula Zondag, right is busy fitting
different sized blocks into matching holes as education these days is made fun. Photo by McKinley
STOCK Y � U
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Guaranteed for 30,000 miles or
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hast. Maximum winter protec-
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Imperial Gallons.
HENSALL DISTRICT CO-OP
BRUCEFIELD
482-9823
HENSALL
262-3002
ZURICH
236-4393