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Zurich Citizens News, 1970-02-12, Page 4PAGE FOUR ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1970 Problems For Municipal Councils In seeking the agreement of Huron Boal•d of Educat- ion to accept payment of tax monies twice yearly rather than on the quarterly basis that the province has establ- ished, Huron county councillors were reflecting a prob- lem common to rural municipalities. The quarterly payment plan recognized the need of the school board for a continuing income and was an effort to reduce the interest costs of the board. But in clearing the board's problems the province created even greater problems for many municipal councils. Most townships continue to collect their taxes each December and if they are required tc pay over the educ- ational tax levy quarterly it means the councils must borrow additional sums until the tax money comes in. And this in turn means more expense for the townships an expense that actually is a cost of education but which under this method can only be buried in the general ex- penses of the township. It is true there is an increasing tendancy--particul- arly in urban areas --towards meeting tax costs on a month to month basis or at least at regular periods throughout the year. This is common sense since the majority of the taxpayers receive income weekly or monthly. It is easier for them to pay taxes throughout the year in the same way as they pay their hydro and gas bills than be faced with a walloping big bill at a time when pre -Christmas expenses place undue demands on ones pocket book. It snakes sense, too, from the standpoint of the municipality which must pay its accounts throughout the year. A regular inflow of money cuts the necessity of borrowing to a minimum with a resulting saving in inter- est. But this doesn't apply to the same degree in rural areas. While the production of many farmers is such that their income is geared to a monthly schedule the maj- ority find it necessary to borrow in the spring until crops or stock are sold in the fall. If townships insisted on payments each quarter councillors properly feel an undue burden would be placed on many of their ratepayers through the additional borrowing that they would be faced -with to meet their tax bills. Its all very well to say "let them borrow" but to the farmer faced with mounting costs and tight credit --and there are altogether too many in this category today -- the added load can be a major item. It can only mean more problems for the municipal council and probably added penalties for those unfortunate taxpayers who are delinquent. None of this, of course, would have happened had Premier Robarts carried through with the promises he made as he announced the county school system. He said the new school boards would levy and collect their own taxes and be accountable to the electorate for the educational bill they had created. This didn't happen. While the boards of education determine the costs of education and levy accordingly, they levy, not on individual ratepayers, but on the respective municipalities who act as collection agencies. As a result it is the municipal councillor who faces the problems of tax collection and bears the brunt of the criticism which increasing tax bills generate. No wonder Huron reeves were troubled by this added problem which the province has placed on their laps. (The Huron Expositor) ZURICH Citizens NEWS PRINTED BY SOUTH HURON PUBLISHERS LIMITED, ZURICH HERB TURKHEIM, Publisher Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385 ate N, +�� Mfr Member: �,f 0� R'= Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association Lisle ,moo Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association 1,4Fo`a Subscription Rates: $3.50 per year in advance in Canada; $4.50 in United States and Foreign; single copies 10 cents PORK president re-elected It was a close squeak, but I retained my position as Presi- dent of PORK (Parents Of Rot- ten Kids) at the annual elec- tion of officers held in my study recently. I was given the honor of leading, once again, this progressive and widespread or- ganization, with members in every town and city in Canada, because my daughter quit uni- versity after one term. We now have the situation of our son, who dropped out two years ago, and dropped back in this year, urging his kid sister not to be a slob, a ninny, a quitter, a lazy bum, just as we urged him when he did it. The reason for Kim's deci- sion is rather fuzzy in our eyes, as she wasn't failing, and even seemed to like some aspects of it. But I think the main reason was that, after 13 years of school and piano lessons, she had simply had enough, and wanted to find out what real life is all about. I haven't figures (but I'll bet they're shocking) of the num- ber of bright young people who quit college in their first year. The reasons are obvious. It is boring, it doesn't live up to their expectations, or they can't stand the new freedom and fall behind, hopelessly, in their work. It's a bitter blow for parents with high hopes, especially for those who couldn't afford it themselves and want some- thing better for their children. There are tears and exhorta- tions and beating of breasts. There is the rational approach, the plaintive approach, the thunderous condemnation. But you might as well try to reason with John Calvin or an oak stump as with a stubborn 18 -year-old who has made up his or her mind about some- thing. The favorite expression is that they want to "find" themselves, to ]earn to live in a world that is not cotton - wrapped .or institutionalized. This argument brings ulcers, apoplexy and fallen arches of the soul to parents. And I have some sympathy for the kids. As long as they're not my own. They want to get out of the retrace of mort- gages, taxes and striving for security in which they see their grey -faced parents, en- gaged. They are simply sick of a system with a stick at one end and a carrot, in the form of a piece of paper, at the other. For some kids, the system is fine. And I especially admire those who: without too much natural ability, and practically no money, haul themselves through school by their boot- straps, on plain hard work. For others, a minority, the system is rotten, and to some extent I agree with them. They want a simpler, cleaner way of life. It's a tough decision for them. Often, it takes more courage to quit than to con- form. They hate to hurt their baffled parents. They are la- belled as lazy punks and drop- outs. They, are told they can't face reality: They are confront- ed by nagging, bullying, threats and bribes, along with their own feelings of guilt. They often become emotionally disturbed, or pretty tough on the surface. But there's one thing par- ents must do. They must stop trying to live through their kids, especially when the latter are old enough to work, to marry and to live their own lives. Parents should do the same — live their own lives. They should go on loving their offspring, if possible. They should help them, if they need help. But they should stop trying to manipulate them, to mold them into a design they think is the right one. Please don't think I'm de. fending all dropouts. Some of them are lazy bums, and quit- ters. But I can't help wonder- ing what I should do, if I were 18 today. When I went to university, it was a way of getting off the treadmill, of escaping a dull job and a limited future and a life of diapers, and boiled cab- bage, and hamburg four times a week, and never enough money. Today's affluent kids are getting off another type of treadmill in a different way. They have my sympathy, but my heart bleeds for those who won't make it, and discover, too late, that they have ex- changed a treadmill for a squirrel cage, 0 About People Mr. Wes Hugill, Gary and Beth, of Kitchener were Sunday visitors with Mrs. E. Thiel. Mrs. Hugill has been a patient in Kitchener and London Hosp- itals for the past couple of week: was expected to return to her home on Monday. Dr. and Mrs. C. J, Wallace and family, were weekend visitors with Dr. and Mrs. N. Gripper, Alliston. VARNA UNITED CHURCH WOMEN The February meeting of the United Church Women was held last Thursday evening. It was opened by the president, Mrs. William Dowson who read a poem, Group two, led by Mrs. Grant Webster, had charge of devotions, Mrs. Watson Webster led in prayer. The offering was taken by Mrs. Murdock Morrison, and dedicated by Mrs. A, J. Mustard. The study hook was taken by Mrs. W. Webster. Miss Sylvia Wilson Faye a demonstration of "Indian Club Swinging". Several thank -you letters were read, also one from the London Rescue Mission. Forty- one calls were made to sick and shut-ins during the past month. A donation was made to the United Church Camp at Goderich. The roll call was answered by gifts to the Don Lobb fam- ily. The meeting was closed by Mrs. Grant Webster and group one served lunch. The annual meeting of the Seaforth Huron County Orange Lodge will be held at the Orange Hall in Goderich, on Wednesday, February 18. 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