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fCutting taxes with casino 1cash flot so simple: Town By IRENE GENTLE The Champion Town council's decision to set $500,000 in slot machine revenue aside for community use doesn't go far enough, says a local res- ident. Gary Ellis of Nassagaweya sug- gested tht entire jackpot be passed on to ratepayers in tht form of a massive tax tut. So fat. Milton bas received $4.5 million from 750 slot machines placed as Mohawk Raceway ast August. 0f that, $2.5 million was collet- td in 1999. And tht total windfall is estimated to be $6.5 million for 2000. Taking ail that money and using it to tut taxes would reduce tht tax burden by about $500 for tht owner of a $ 185,000 home, said Mr. Ellis. 11I believe it should al go back to thetsaxpayers," he said. "It's $500. It's significant." Significant enough, in fact, to, wipt out tht 2000 tax levy entirely. said tht Town'a finance director Jim MeQuten. "There'd be no taxes levied in tht town and there would be $270,000 lefi over," he said. But tht uncertainty of alot rev- enue makes tht idea hazardous, he added. "It's ttrribly short-sighted. This is not a sure revenue stream for tht municipality," said Mr. McQueen. "What if next year there was only haîf that? Would tht people then take a 50 per cent tax increase?" Mr. Ellis also believed councit- lors acted inappropriately when they voted to divvy up tht lion's share of tht boot without public feedback. "Fim concemned about'council spending this without input," said Mr. Ellîs. "Council should have the courage to, go before the people." tnstead, a public meeting ia being schedultd to, deal witis tht commu- nity portion of tht windfall only. Staff's suggestion for that money is 50 set up a resident-run Community Foundation. That would set tht Town dedi- cating a pereentage of alots revenue to the foundation taris year. In tht case of a $6.5 million jackpot tht foundation would receive $500,000. That money would be held as principal by tht foundation - council wouldn't have a say in how it was spent. The intereat accrued from tht principal would then ho awarded to community groupa by foundation members. In it'a first year, a 10 per cent intereas rate means about $50,000 would be available for community funding. But that amount would grow each year along with the prin- cipal. The community portion of siots revenues is toise established before the end of the year. There are better ways to inveat stot revenues than tax culs, said Councillor John Challinor. 'These are nos tax revenues, they*re proceeds from gambling whicis through an agreement with tht Ontario Lottery Corporation have corne to us," he said. "We have tht responsibility to ensure those dollars are invested in our community properly." Ht added that Milton is already ont of tht lowest taxed areas in tht (JTA. Services, infrastructure and debt reduction are ail healthy places to sink tht cash, sald Mr. Challinor. "Tht capital works deficiency we have is huge. tt'a work that has to be dont," he said. "When you don't manage Chat stuff, that's how you get a Walkerton. We have a responsibili- ty to, manage that for future genera- tions." Councillor Rick Maîbotuf would prefer to set juat some of tht money used for tax cuts. "t'd go for some of it, but not ail," he said. "It's not feasible." fl The Canadien Champion, Fniday, June 16, 2000 - 5 Corrections are due There were two errors in an article on waterfalls and ond that perdi Ray, not ky,4a~clGnt"is the owner Also, ponds should aetuaUly be a mîni- mumof two-and-a-half-feet and no more than thrce feet. Tise original story suid po& hoai be a ximtuof two-and The Champion apologizes fortIse erros and alay confusion they nsay have oaes ln Support of the Community J HNSON CONTR LS Automotive Systems Croup Milton Plant Johnson Controls Ltd. would like to thank the generous sponsors of our Annual Golf Toumnament in support of the United Way of Milton!! Gallinger Motors, Ltd. Quality Inn - Milton Kelsey's Restaurant Trade Mark Industrial, Inc. Primary Electrical Supply W.M. Roberts Electrical & Mechanical Inc. The On-Site Group Inc. Atlas COPCO Tools Canada Halton Machining Mill Weld Enterprises, Ltd Engineering Solutions Sibley & Associates Inc. Gino's Pizza Raddisson Hotel - Mississauga Harrop Restaurant & Gallery DZ One Challenger Motor Freight Inc. Kalena Flowers Ainsworth Communications Services Microage Loblaws - Milton TK's Catering Energizer Canada Spokes NY Siopes Coyote Messengers Inc. The Grand Chalet Don Cherry's Grapevine - Milton Warren Gibson's Ltd. Marlin Travel - Walmart, Oakville Numatech Industries Inc. C:orporate Challenge:ý Our campaign this year through payroll deduction is $11 ,000+. We invite other companies to meet theI challenge. 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