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The Citizen, 1997-02-26, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26,1997 itizen (JCNA P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOU 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 The North Huron P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/year In U.S.A, and $75.00/year In other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 Expensive pieces don’t fit Anyone who has ever taken apart a piece of machinery knows that sometimes when you try to put it back together the pieces don’t fit. Sometimes it can be costly trying to make things work again. E ditorial I . . '................ ~1 Such seems to be the case in the provincial government's dismantling of the old economic order in the taxation split between levels of government. The switching of tax roles and responsibilities could leave some serious problems with could have far-reaching ramifications. Two particular changes will have a huge impact on local residents unless the government makes changes in the plans announced so far. There seemed to be good news for farmers in the announcement that the farm tax rebate would be cancelled and farmland would be assessed at 25 per cent of value for municipal tax purposes. Along with the removal of education tax from residential properties, this seemed to make sense. But the math doesn't work. (Maybe Education Minister John Snobelen is too late with his reforms — the deficient math students have already graduated to government.) According to Huron County officials, local townships are going to be hit with a loss of $3,168,000 in revenue because they used to get the taxation revenue they won't now. In town, the government's decision to take education taxes off residential properties was not matched with the removal of education tax from commercial and industrial properties. In fact, there have been some estimates commercial and industrial taxpayers will be hit with a 50 per cent increase in taxes because of the changes. As Blyth Reeve Mason Bailey recently told Huron County council, this could be devastating for local business communities. The 1990s have not been good for main street. A stubborn recession combined with the invasion of "big box" retailers have stripped profits to the bone. Our local retailers are just hanging on, hoping things will improve. A 50 per cent tax increase could be the final straw that makes them give up. That has serious ramifications for the whole community. Not only is the downtown the heart of any community and its health, therefore, important to the health of the whole community, but we need the jobs these businesses provide. As municipalities now have to pick up half of welfare costs, if jobs are lost, local taxes will go up. If those businesses go broke, they won't be there to pay taxes and the rest of the community will have to pick up the added burden. What we have here is a vicious circle of higher taxes leading to higher taxes. We need more business, not less. Ironically, a government perceived to have a small business bias has taken an action that might be more damaging to small business than anything since the GST. Unfortunately, given the government’s strategy of a blitzkrieg of changes, many people aren't fully aware of what is going on yet. The government must act to fix these two problems they have created. If not, we'll pay a terrible price for their mistakes. — KR Letters Playing games with the future It seemed like a good idea to the group of Scottish researchers. It was like an Everest of science — a challenge to be conquered because it was there. So they cloned a sheep, and now have created untold ethical concerns for humanity. The vision of the mad scientist has been a dominant one in popular culture for 100 years. Creators of books and movies have envisioned the day when scientists could play with the very essence of human beings. Now that researchers have cloned animals, experts say, we're just a few years at most from being able to clone humans. And even if it shouldn’t be done, it will. The challenge is there so someone will take it up. And there will be plenty of people willing to be excited about the possibilities without looking at the consequences. The rapid acceptance of genetic manipulation of plants and animals by the agricultural community shows that. From ordinary farmers to farm leaders, most in agriculture are willing to put their faith in the infallibility of scientists. Dreaming of monetary gains, they discount the possibility cfiF releasing horrible genetic mistakes into nature. In an age of individualism, the right of the scientist to conquer any challenge, and the right of the individual to use that scientific break - though, has superceded the right of society to be protected against foolhardy mistakes by the few. — KR THE EDITOR, The government has listened to the concerns of rural Ontario and has acted by introducing Bill 104. As many parents are aware, there have been inequities in the funding formula since it was designed, and these inequities have been very harsh when it comes to funding education in the County of Huron. Presently, the Huron Perth Separate School Board spends approximately $4,900 per student. This is made up of approximately $7.6 million raised through property tax and a $18.5 million grant from the province. The Huron Board of Education spends $4,500 per student, approximately; $26.5 million through properly tax levy and a $27.5 million grant from the province and therefore from income tax collected from the taxpayers of Ontario. The situation is quite different in the major cities. In Toronto, in the public system approximately $9,000 is spent for each student's education every year. All of these funds are raised by property tax levy. An inequity in per pupil funding has led many people to be concerned about a two-tiered education system. As subsequent governments have reduced grant funding to boards of education, Huron boards have been substantially affected as a result of the grants they receive. The Toronto board on the other hand, has received no reduction in its funding because it receives no grants from the provincial governments. Therefore, it is important to note that Toronto schools have faced no reduction in funding whatsoever. Many have talked about the equitableness of this situation. I believe that this system no longer works, and is not equitable to the people of Huron, and therefore it must be changed. We have done this in Bill 104. Subsequent governments have considered change but, to say the least, it is controversial, especially in Toronto. As a result of Bill 104, funding for students will be on a per pupil basis. This will ensure that all students in the province have the same dollars being spent on their education regardless of where they live. Depending on the results of the funding formula discussions, there is a possibility that more dollars will be spent on the students of Huron. The same bill amalgamates school boards across the province. I believe this will reduce administrative costs across the province and put dollars into the classroom. A Huron Perth Board presently represents the separate schools in Huron and it will not be changed. The public school board will become a merged Huron Perth board. Will this produce savings? Presently we have two directors, two business managers, etc. and I believe we cannot help but reduce administrative costs. One of the last issues outlined in Bill 104 is the establishment of the Education Improvement Commission. This commission was set up to ensure that the transition occurs smoothly and students' concerns are met and that the taxpayers' interests are protected. A trustee in the Huron board has Continued on page 6