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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1990-05-02, Page 16THE HURON 'EXPOSITOR, MAY 2, 1990,.— 15 THE GOOEIS , and SERVICE TAX REGISTRATION FORMS ARE ARRIVING!! NEED HELP?? CONTACT: oyter e J.. _ssociotes 36 Winnipeg St. VANASTRA, Ont. 466-5640 Your local G.S.T. Specialist GREAT BUNCH OF GUYS - The Harmony Kings presented their annual Spring Concert, April 28, at the Seaforth Communi- ty Centre. The troup performed skits and several chorus Harmony Kings kick up their heels V1' num . ers to two "Truck Stop." au fences. This year's production was called Oxford photo. WELCOME Allan Beange, President of Skeoch Business Equipment Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of John Shaw as Sales Representative. John has years of ex- perience in the retail in- dustry, both as a high level manager and business owner. . John will be happy to assist you in the selection of office equipment & supplies for your business needs. John Shaw - Sales Representativ 524-8652 410 MacEWAN ES • SERVICE St,GODER• GCHAL1 800-265-5195 °TRS CK STOP' LOOKS LIKE A GOOD PLACE TO STOP - These three hospitable guys were part of the "Truck Stop" skits. From left to right are Don McDonald, Ross Kahle and Marlen Vincent. Oxford photo. ur Service ever nds. We'll give you fast, accurate service for your tax or bookkeep- ing needs — AUI year round. ur staff is friendly, our fees are reasonable. CALL US FOR AN APPOINTMENT OR STOP IN TODAY. The Year -Round Income Tax Specialists. H&R BLOCK NEW HOURS! GODERoICH 53A Victoria St., 524-8658 Mon. - Tuesday, 9-5 p.m. KINCARDINE WINGHAM CLINTON 45 Huron Street, (back entrance) 482-7541 Wednesday 9 - 5 p.m. Contact Goderich Office We're Fully Equipped for any job IT'S BM THE PM - Prime Minister Brian Mulroney Barry Mahon made an appearance at the Harmony Kings production, THIS ONE NEEDS A UKULELE - There were lots of skits and plenty of laughs at the "Truck Stop." From left to right are Leonard Lobb, Bill Strong, Richard Rose and Graham Bowker. Oxford photo. Board of Education budget BY SHELLEY MCPHEE HAIST CLINTON - Trustees for the Huron County Board of Education (HCBE) have voted against the 1990 proposed budget of $57,315,977. The budget is up over $5 million from the previous year. Trustees met in Clinton on April 30 to wrestle with the budget, and after three hours of deliberations, voted to take it back to the drawing board for further reductions. In dollars and cents the proposed budget would see the average tax bill rise by 22 per cent, or more than $96. Based on a $44,000 assessment, in 1989 the average residential taxpayer put $438.59 towards public education in Huron County. This year the figure could rise to $534.91 with the new budget. This substantial increase in taxes con- cerned several HCBE trustees and John Jewitt spoke against the budget, in pro- posing that it be sent back for further study and targeted towards an increase of 10 per cent for the county taxpayers. "I honestly believe that one of the most important things we can teach our young people is to be fiscally responsi- ble. 1 also believe that one of life's realities is that you cannot always have everything you want when you want it." He further noted, "I feel that while we have an obligation to our young peo- ple to ensure they receive an education that will allow them to compete favorably with other young people from other school areas, we also have an obligation to the ratepayers of Huron County who I really believe in most cir- cumstances are not enjoying the so- called economic prosperity of Ontario to the same degree as our city cousins". The education budget is financed by the province to the tune of 60 per cent, and some 38 per cent comes from the municipal level. However, increases in the budget are being blamed on the trend to reduce government funding, and at the same time provide financing at the local board level to pay for more government initiated programs. Provincial support on the revenue side of the budget has dropped nine per cent this year. Since 1985 government financing has increased by 15 per cent, while at the local level, tax support has climbed 63 per cent. This year the HCBE is saddled with more than $1,629,455 in expenditures as a result of government programs, in- cluding pay equity, OHIP premimunms replaced by payroll tax, changes to the Canada Pension Plan and downsizing class sizes. Pay equity will cost the HCBE $412,355. Downsizing teacher -pupil ratios in Grades 1 and 2 to a 20 to one limit has meant hiring an aditional 13.5 teachers in the past two years, and a cost of $666,900 to the HCBE. Trustee Tony McQuail spoke against cutting the 1990 budget and noted, "The government budget increases are real and have to be dealt with. It would be nice if we could hold the line on other expenses, but it won't be realistic. We voted down have to buy pencils and repair rpofs." Mr. McQuail warned against cutting back the budget when the government is also making significant reductions. He suggested, "It's not realistic. It will defer a bigger chunk of the costs for next year and the next year. It's dishonest because it's not letting us keep the plants and the education system at the level it's supposed to be at." Last yeaf the HCBE held the line on budget increases to 10 per cent. It has been suggested that this has led to the need for higher increases this year. Trustee Bea Dawson noted, "The HCBE went out on a limb last year, and held back the increase, and now we are in a difficult position. Our schools are all more than 20 years old and they need repairs." Along with the $57 million budget, the HCBE is looking at a wish list of special projects that total more than $1.5 million. The proposals call for school renovations, expansion of existing programs, equipment purchases, tex- tbook purchases and implementation of pilot projects. Some items on the list, such as paving parking lots, have been on the wish list for more than 18 years. The list may be deferred again if the board chooses to cut the budget. Trustee Graeme Craig suggested, "There comes a time when you have to say no. and this is the time." Turn to page 18 • Our Gravel/Stone Screener operating at our p t. e have the capacity to meet your needs In gravel and atone. NEW FOR 1990 We now have the equipment to offer you CUSTOM CRUSHING AND SCREENING OF GRAVEL Supplying you with various aggregate materials in gravel and stone. Our fleet of excavators - loaders - bulldozers •TRUCKING *GRAVEL, SAND & STONE, •BULLDOZING *EXCAVATING *TOPSOIL *SEPTIC SYSTEMS "No Job too big or too small"