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PAE4, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1978, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby Voice of, the-Coiunty Town Mivhael l Thie,ouly Whîtby newspaper independenîly owned and open SERVING OVER 28#.000 IlEADERS an Burgess, Publisher-Managing Ecitor razea. o..y Lé.. J..~£U1*I i wnapy îesiaucuus tlUWitby lUresiaerns. Pub ish d e er W e nes ay Com m unity Edit r -B rin W nter , Publshe evry ednsyContriOiting Editor -Jim udi Production Manager -Marli&Bur98ss by M.B. M.Puihng Print & Promotiona' an PbSM1Manager -Robin Lyof' dnt PhotOgIlpily IflC.Classifled Ad Manager'~-&. vaDece1,# Phone 668-6111 %Circulation Manager t~inLyOfn Mailing Permit No. 46O .IbeFree Press*Buildin Member of the: 131 Brock Street NOZth, B tter Businaî's B ureu of oronto, Pff'Box 206. Whitby, Ont. Whltby Chamber of Commeroe Rotary Club says thanks forp blicity Dear Brian: Please accept our appreciation for thesup- port. your newspaper provided our Service Club .An publlcizing, as part of the Annual1 County Town Carnival Celebrat- ions, pur f irst yea r Chicken Barbeque Dinner, including the traditional Pancake- Sausage Breakfast. Both events were a huge success other than, unfortunately, not being able to meet the total num ber who at tended the Chicken Barbeque Dinner. Full credit was given at the admission gate to advanced ticket' holders who could flot be served. Obviously, the publicity given to the two events, including excellent weather conditions, were the primary factors in achieving excellent, resuits.' Plans are now being prepared to ensure th at next year's celebrations will provide full satisfac- tion to ail those who attend. A special appreciation is in order to the Citizens who provided their sup- port to these two events. Yours sincerely, David* L. Harries, Publicity chairman, Whitby Rotary Club Refugees seeking aid Dear Sir: not be bitterness betweý .The spreading racli blacks and whites. war ln Southern Africa Canadian Aid fi continues to dlaim Southern Africa undreds of human lives Refugees (CASAR) h and to drive manY already sent $3,500. victims Into exile in through Archbishî countries which are Milingo of Zambla, tl themselves impoverished Patriotic Front, and ti and unable to provide the Christian Council, needed relIef for refugee Zambia, ta give humai A United Nations repart tarlan aid ta refugei lest year stated that 1,500 from racial tyranny persans had died as a hodesia', Namibia ai resuit of Rhadesien South Africa. Though tI Government raids on sums that can k refugee camps (Man- provlded by, Individui chester Guardian, Dec. Cenadians will meet onl 25th, 1977). Since then, a fraction of th there have beenfurther enormaus needs, they ai raids, and ln perticular, a prectical way for thos the South Africen army's of us in the West who ai recent raid on the ref ugee appa lied at the systi camp et Cassinga ln matic racismn practised i Angoae during 'which, Southern Africa t according ta the corres- express aur indlônatlc pondent of the British end aur sympethy far th FinencialTimes who victims. We therefar vlited the camp after the appeal ta your readers t raid, large number Of meke whatever contribt students and school tions they cen taO au chlldren were kllled. funds. Contributions er, Those wha have f led tax-deciuctible, an from racial persecution should be sent ti and have escaped the Canadiàn Aid fo raids areilnneed of food, Southern Africai clothing, shelter, medicel Ref ugees, P.O. Box 24865 care and education . Much 'ation C, Vancouvei can be dane by 'the C., V5T 4G3. citizens of Western Very Truly yours, nations ta lessen racial bitterness, such as that wfiich led ta the recent 1eV. R.A. Burrows, massacres at Kolwezi. A 1.Chetty, M.D., gesture of good wilI on Prof. Geoffrey Durranl our part, and tthe sending Alan M. Inglis, MD.# of tlmely help, may serve Prof. Thomas L Per", fo show that there need ,M.D. en for as 0 hfe hfe of -li- ýes in ind fie ai ly he le- in 'n me re to re )r PI<OPERTY TAX REFORM - PUBLIC PROPERTY* EXEMPT PROPERTY AND PROVINCIAL GRANTS Under the present property tax system federal, provincial and local government property is exemipt from both'the business and realty tax. Included in this exemption are such things as universities, schools, Ontario Housing projects, hospitals, jail and government office buildings. The provincial and federal governments do provide payments-in-lieu of taxes, such payments being calculated, in a variety of ways, L.e. for provincial parks a sum per acre, for hospitals so much per bed, for Wiversities so much per student. The proposais under reform have suggested that ail public ?roperty be taxes at 100% of market value, and public residences be subject to full equivalent payments-in-lieu of taxes at 50% of market value, the rame as any other residence. Lt is not proposed to have a business tax apply to government office buildings, but only to government businedses such as the Provincial Government Bookstore. While this proposai may initiaily sound like just another tax on the peuple of Ontario, there is a great deal of menit to levying a property tax on al government holdings. Although the provincial and federal governments presently make substantial payments to municipalities in lieu of taxes, these payments are not always consistent, they do not always equal the full amount of potential taxes and some government properties are exempt from payments-in-lieu. Therefore, the èôst of holding property is not fully realîzed by the different governments. By levying a tax on property held by local governments, the ratepayers would for the first time be in a position ta know the true cost of municipal versus school facilities. There would of course need ta be a few exceptions to <his proposai, such as highways which already yield a significant indirect tax revenue through gasoline taxes and vehicle licenses. Were the exemptions ta be removed here, considera- tion would need to be given ta the treatment of every street throughout the Province, which is bath unworkable and undesireable. The preliminary computer printouts indicate that the muicipalities in D>urham West Riding would be receved an additional $6,80,O in total property tax revenue from provincial government property if the propased reformn mnesures had been lmplemnented Iast year. To enaure that I do t et flot mislead you,'any increase in revenue fromn provincial properties would be offset by some reductions in provincial grants to the muncipalities in Durham West Riding. The disposition of federal government property would have to be negotiated with the federal government. Exempt Property There are basically three other categories of property that are presently exempt from taxation, i.e. property owned by churches, cemetaries and Indian Bands; property owned by <charitable and non profit institutions; and property owned by private sehools. In attempting to arrive at an equitable systemn for property taxation much debate has been held on the merits of continuing thee exemptions, or levying the tax and providing for deferrals until such time as the property is sold for a different use. Both sides of this argument are valid. However, the Government of Ontairo is committed to the policy that when tax reform is introduced, ail existing tax exemptions on other than government property, wilI be allowed to continue, but businesses operating on exempt land will pay the business tax. Provincial Grants The limited space of this column does not allow for ful discussion of this highly technical, complex subject, and I will therefore make no attempt to do other than highlight a few of .the problems. Provincial transfer payments to municipalities can generally be broken down into four categories; first grants to school boards; second grants to hospitals; third is made Up of payment-in-lieu of taxes for provincial praperties <as discussed above); and the final category embraces ail other grants to local governments for functions such as roads, weifare, public health, conservation and unconditional grants. The closest estimate of total different grant presently available from the Pronvice to municipalities is 90, and at least haif of these total dollars are based on the assessment of the municipality, which as previously discussed is inequitable and inconsistent. Since 1972 the Province lias dedicated about 30% of its total budget revenue to local governments. In 1977-78 this amnount ta $3.4 billion across the Province. However, of this amount over haîf ($1.9 billion) was sent directly ta the sehool boards. ite municipalities in Durham West Riding received about $30.4 million in grants for 1977 from the Province. 0f this amount sorne $19.4 million went to the school board, leaving aobut $10 million for distribution to, the municîpalities for other purposes. The Government of Ontario clearly recognizes the need ta reform the grant systemn but the first step to this reforma must be consistent assessment legislation and a more equitable systema of taxmng property. I would like ta suggest that if you have any further questions on the taxing of public property, or the distribution of provinical grants W inunlclpalltles, that you cal i ny Cntw:tlluency OMfic at «3-67077. 19 Àdpý