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Tax plan seen as being more fair (Continued from page 1) The Committee was formed in March to study alternatives to Halton‘s contentious regionâ€"wide market value system of property taxation which is set to be impleâ€" mented Jan. 1, 1994. Its members â€" drawn from citizens and politicians from each of Halton‘s four municiâ€" palities â€" deliberated for countless hours to create an array of options Flynn believes are unique in the province. "Right from the start the comâ€" mittee approached the problem from a regional perspective, someâ€" thing the politicians haven‘t been able to do. They rose above local boundaries," said Flynn, who added that while there was some parochialism, the group stayed focused on the region as opposed to individual municipalities. "This is an improvement over the old way of how Town Council decided to proceed with the matter." This old version of MVA ensures that similar properties of equal value in Halton‘s four municâ€" ipalities pay identical "upper tier" taxes through a region wide mill rate. No new taxes would be colâ€" lected but the total amount would be redistributed throughout the Region. While some municipalities would end up paying less taxes others, like Oakville, would pay more. If accepted by Regional Council (twoâ€"thirds of which must vote in favor of the recommendations in order to establish them) the base year of 1988 would be changed to 1992. This would be good news for Oakville residents who saw properâ€" ty values escalate in the Eighties more than other areas in the region. "This is fair to more people in Oakville but equally advantageous to other towns and cities," said Flynn. In addition, education and social assistance would be taken off propâ€" erty tax bills and moved into income taxes. The amount paid for e L en pEfiE‘A yCP mo these, said Flynn, would then be based on one‘s ability to pay and would be particularly good for retirees on fixed pensions. A public information meeting for Oakville has been scheduled for Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. at Regional Headquarters on Bronte Road. According to Town director of Finance Michelle Seguin, the shift to full regionâ€"wide MVA would take place by 1996 at the earliest. (Flynn said the Committee has asked the province to accelerate that timeline.) At that time each taxpayer would be individually assessed. Meanwhile â€" as further alternatives such as Unit Value Assessment are examined â€" the existing apportionment method of taxation would be retained but modified. The biggest change, of course, is the move from 1988 to 1992 as the base year. Seguin explained that â€" assuming for argument‘s sake that regional and school board taxes came in at 0% â€" Oakville‘s share under the system would increase by 3.32%. The remaining three municipalities‘ taxes would drop: Burlington, â€" 0.72%;, Milton, â€"4.31%; Halton Hills, â€"5.85%. Just this week, however, the Committee resolved to ask that the tax shift between municipalities be limited to 2% annually. In reiterating his praise for the Committee, Flynn said Queen‘s Park and the Fair Tax Commission are both very interested in the new Kevin Flynn "This is fair to more people in Oakville but equally advantaâ€" geous to other towns and cities." Remember: FREE SATURDAY PARKING in all MUNICIPAL LOTS (excluding the parking garage,) and free parking throughout downtown Sundays and evenings after 6:00 p.m. Come to Downtown Oakville between August 20th and September 25th to do your fall shopping. For every purchase you make, you could be a winner! Thousands of dollars worth of prizes will be given away! To take part, all you have to do is to fill out a ballot in a participating downtown business â€" or cut out the ballot from this ad and bring it to your favourite store in Downtown Oakville. All ballots must be submitted by September 25, 1993. Winners will be drawn on September 29, 1993. Just remember â€" You have to shop in Downtown Oakville to win. Why shop anywhere else?