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Tax policy hi BY JAS>ON MISNER A latnapIne k iunity housing advisory comnrttee says taxes bemng paid by landlords haven't corne down enough, creating high rents for low-income families having trouble paying their buis. "People that are renting are the pooreat in Our society," Arun Pathak of the Halton Housmng Advisory Comjnittee said in an interview. "If they had that extra $80 or extra $100 a month they'd be better fed, they'd buy the prescriptions they need. Their quality of life .isn't where it should be and (high rents) are making it worse." Last week, regional counicillors endorsed a recon-uendation to set new tax assets- ments for various properties for 2003. Part of those properties are multi-residential, which include apartment buildings. The Region has deeided to tax multi-res- idential properties at a ratio of 2.26, a decrease from last year, as wetl as con- struction of new multi-residential proper- ties at 2. Through a complex fonmula, ratios determîine the proportionate arnount of taxes parties pay in each of the seven classes. Mr. Pathak spoke to regional counecil on behaif of the 14-member housing advisoiy committee, set up in 2000 to advise region- ai politicians on general housing issues. He said the committee bas two major problema with the Region's tax asseasment pollcy. One, high taxes for landiords means high rent. Currently, rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Halton starts ai about $700. Also, chargmng developers big bucks to build apartment buildings may cause them to avoid such a projeet. The most beneficial thing the Region can do right now, he said, is reduce the multi- residenîja] tax ratio further. By dropping it from 2.26 to 1, he sai ,d renta could go down as much as 1l per cent because under the Tenant Protection Act, rents must automatically decrease if a land- lord has its taxes substantially lowered. Lower renta would leave familles more money to buy food rather than having to spend it on high renta, he said. "There are a lot of people having an affordability problemr and the beat way to ease that and the faireat way is to not over- tax themn (landiords)," said Mr. Pathak, also a co-owner of a total of five apartmnent buildings in Halton and Hanilton. Jane MacCaskill, the Region's commuis- sioner of corporate services and treasurer, said Halton bas been working toward get- ting the multi-residential tax ratio down. It bas fallen steadily since 1999 when MIPAC started, and the ultimate goal is to gel the ratio down 10 between 1.8 and 2, where it would stay, she said. But 10 bring it down 10 1, as Mr. Pathak wants it, would be "too drastie," Ms MacCaskill said. That's because the changes would result in residentia taxpay- ers picking up the difference and it would be huge, she said. "Our objective is to gel a fair tax sys- tem," Ms Macaskidl said. Mr. Pathak acknowledged there 's 11111e that can be donc now about this year's tax asseasment rates. But he's putting hope into a staff report that will be looking into future tax assesa- menîs and how changes can be made to bring more fairnesa. The reports findinga are expected in the falI. "I'm hoping staff will have some sort of a plan to 'start reducing (multi-residentia taxes) next year," he said. "It would be fair for themn (residential taxes) to go up and for multi-residential 10 corne down 10 their equal." The Canladian Champion, Friday, Apnil 25, 2003-13 ,ard on low-incomefamilies: committee oat ReginalChar focý-ýh"scoop? housing in Halton is sornething the Region deals with on a regular basis. Based on 2001 figures, there are 18,000) fýl-,' , ' i,ý 11 ýýl i l oii. Ms Savoline said there are guvernient rent subsidies, but the real issue is getting affordable housing built. $21000 per unît buit and th1e tederal gov- emment $25,000. Jason Misner can be reached at jmis- vFORD CREDIT HONOURS GALLINGER FORD LINCOLN WITH PRESTIGIOUS PARTNERS IN QUALITY AWARD GALLINGER FORD LINCOLN FORD CREDIT CANADA DAVID TOM W.T. ANTHONY WALLY GALLINGER GALLINGER GALLINGER DINENO RENZELLA Generai Manager General Service President 8ranch Dealer Account Manager Manager Manager Milton, Ontario, April 16, 2003 - Ford Credit, the world's largest automnotive finance company is honouring Gallinger Ford Lincoln for the second consecutive year with the Partners in Quality Award for 2002, for outstanding achievement in customer satisfaction and partnership with FordCredit. The prestigîous award this year is limited to 9 Canadian and 100 US. dealers chosen from among 5000 Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers in North America. "Partners in Quality Award winners share our belief that Ford Credit's distinctive difference in the marketplace is its ability f0 continually exceed customer expectations in the vehicle purchase and financing experience," said Ford Credit Hamiton Branch Manager, Anthony Dineno. "These dealers are key to our continued success because they understand that delivering exceptional customer service is a winning proposition for the customer, the dealer and our company." The Parîners in Quality Award Sculpture is created by a world renowned artist and commissioned by Ford Credit. Established in 1993 by former Ford Credit President, Edsel B. Ford !!, the award symbolizes a tradition of partnership between Ford Credit and its dealers in satisfying customers by providing superior products and services. The dealer's customers determine the winners based on customer satisfaction ratings and the share of business they conduct with Ford Credit. Ford Credit is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company and is the world's largest automotive finance company. Now in its 44th year, Ford Credit has earned numerous awards for customer satisfaction, and provides vehicle financîng in 36 countries to more than il million customers and more than 12,500 automotive dealers. More information can be found at www.ford creditca. i.. ~Onyîa~ __F s q 234 1, ext. 1