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2-Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday. February 7th, 1979 Orono Weekly Times THÉ SWEET TASTE OF A TAX REDUCTION Residential taxpayers in Clarke Township and the Village of Orono are having-some difficulty in believing that their -tax bill in 1979 could well drop by a dramatic amount. The average residential tax bill, as it now appears, could drop some $200.00 providing the Town of Newcastle and the Board,of Education can maintain restraint in their spending during the year. - It all comes about through the use of market value assessment brought down by the Province through a request from the Town of Newcastle. The news broke on Monday with the receipt of the new market value assessment in the mails, mails. It has been contended over the past few years that Clarke and Orono had been paying more than their share in taxes and this latest information proves the validity of this opinion. The drop in taxation in this area is dramatic especially when it reaches around a twenty-five percent decrease. While this area may enjoy a tax, decrease the Town of Newcastle and the Board of Education must come up with a total funding for their respective operations and someone else must be taking up the slack. Although it is too early, on Monday, to find out where the slack is being taken up increases have to exist. A tax réduction is certainly unusual and must welcomed, but we cannot forget that over the past five years residents of Clarke and Orono have been paying considerably more than their full share. . 4 ■- A BREAK THROUGH IN SALARY NEGOTIATIONS The recent ratification by the. elementary school teachers of a proposed contract with the Board of Education may well break new ground in future negotiations within the school system as well as with other local municipal groups. It is significant that the teachers in the first place accepted a lump sum settlement of $990.00 for each and every teacher rather than a percentage of each teacher's salary. Having accepted the lump sum settlement it means that no matter where a teacher stands in the grid they all get the same number of dollars for an increase. Under the old system, using a percentage increase, the higher paid teacher would have received a larger amount as to the increase compared to the teacher with less qualifications and experience. Under this system the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. If meant that a teacher getting $25,000 and obtaining a seven percent increase would have received a hike of $1,750 while a teacher with a salary of say,$12,500 would have only received an increase of $875. g Certainly the cost of living in dollars and cents for the lower income teacher rises as much as that for the higher income teacher for the necessities of comfortable living. The lump sum payment across the grid recognizes this fact and such a system of increase payment does have a great deal of merit. Using thé percentage basis to give increases only widens the gap between the 'hâves' and the 'have-nots'. The lump sum pàyment retards the widening of the gap and places dollars where it is most required. The acceptance of the lump sum increase becomes even more significant when one realizes that the majority of elementary teachers 1 in the local system are in the upper bracket of the salary schedule. The majority of teachers did vote to level out the increase over the entire profession and for this they are to be commended. There is one othêr feature ot the lump sum payment. It is placing more money in the hands of those that are in need and thus the increase, is more likely to be. spent for a wider range of basic products and thus a'stimulant to the entire economy. It should mean more money in circulation in Canada rather than'a holiday trip to die south or overseas or an increase in savings. The local Board of Education and the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority both now make use of the lump sum pay increase. It would seem time that the lown of Newcastle took the same approach or at least made a study of this approach to salary negotiations. If a curb is not soon adopted throughout the country then top salaries will continue to skyrocket with the richer only getting richer and at the cost of the rest of the nation. Letter to the Editor Dear Sir: Our ladies group, Morning Brgak, of Port Hope are interested in hearing from other similar groups and arranging a convention. The purpose of our group is getting women together for crafts, to hear guest spehk- ers, to see interesting films, and to meet new friends. Anyone interested in starting starting a group of your own, give us a call and we will try to help. If interested, call: Jean Rudolph!, 416-885-6885; or .Susan Schisler, 416-885-8912. Yours truly, Jean Rudolph!. New arena wall cracking Council members have rec- . eived a report from the Town Manager relating to conditions conditions of the easterly wall of the new Newcastle Village arena. The report refers to a report from the engineering firm of Totten Sims Hubicki. In the engineering report it has been pointed out that the structure of the bleachers in the arena is exerting pressure against the easterly wall resulting in substantial cracking cracking of horizontal joints. The pressure against the bleachers is the result of heaving of a slab of cement which was added to the original ice surface slab. The engineers call for short-term remedial action without delay and also call for a long term remedy for which they state there is extreme urgency. Newcastle pay hikes range 4-19 percent A confidential report from the Town of Newcastle negotiating negotiating committee concerning non-union staff salary increases increases found its way to the press following an in-camera meeting last Friday. The report has recommended salary salary increases for 24 clerks, secretaries and department heads ranging from 4.02 to 19 percent. The total salary hikes will cost the Town of Newcastle $40,026. The increases were made despite restraint calls by the Province of Ontario. Tentative approval was given for a pay increase of 14.28 percent for the Planning " Director, Leslie Kristof, for a total salary of $28,000. A 12 pèrcent or $3,000 is proposed for the Director of Public Works, Jack Dunham. Fire Chief Jim Hayman and Director Director of Social Services Bud Fannitig are to receive a 1 salary of $21,219, an increase of almost 13 percent. Salaries for the clerk, Joe Mcllroy and treasurer Klaas DeGroot were proposed at $26,005. Arena managers will receive a 11.3 percent increase increase while .firemen will .receive from an increase of 18 to 19 percent. The report on Friday was presented to council members members by the Town Manager, Albert Guiler. The Town of Newcastle have yet to settle with union staff members. To the Unfit If you just sit You won't quit Being unfit. ( Continued from page 1 ) Settle for $990. increase of $990.00. Those under the maximum in their category will also receive an additional increment increment of 2.22 percent.. Principal allowances were also revised under the new contract to three groupings rather than the five groupings which existed in the old contract. This will allow for transfer of principals more easily and within a more realistic allowance bracket. Sabbatical leave for teachers teachers has been done away with under the new terms of the agreement. In the past under this system the Board paid 80 percent of the teacher's salary while on approved sabbatical leave. In place of Sabbatical Leave an Educational Improvement Improvement Leave -Plan has been instituted which will be supported by funding of $15,000 a year by the Board. The Education Improvement Leave Plan allow more teachers teachers to take leave for shorter periods up to the limit of the fund, $15,000. The matter df teacher retention and seniority is to be referred to a Joint Committee Committee of Trustees, Teachers and Administration. Under the new salary terms the maximum salary for a St. Saviours ANGLICAN CHURCH Orono, Ontario Regular Sunday Worship Service -10:00 a.m. Rev. Allan Haldenby B.A. L.Th. teacher with twelve ye. ' seniority has risen to $27,4^ compared to the previous $26,450, The total change, package to package including 2.22 percent increment represents an increase of 7.62 percent oVer the 1977-78 agreement, UNITEDCHURCH Orono Pastoral Charge Minister Rev. B.E. Long B.Th. Organist and Choir Director David Gray Sunday, February 11,1979 ORONO UNITED CHURCH Sunday Church School 10 a.m. 'Morning Worship 11:15 a.m. KIRBY UNITED CHURCH Sunday Church School 9: 45 Morning Worship 9:45a.m. Dial-A-Thought 983-9151 Town of Newcastle ' Elderly Persons Tax Assistance Program The Council of the Town of Newcastle is considering financial assistance, by means of a tax credit of $100.00 to elderly home owners in the Town who are qualfied as follows : , The owner or spouse of the owner must: A. Be 65 years of age by March 31, 1979 B. Be in receipt of monthly Guaranteed Income Supplement provided under the Old Age Security Act (Canada) C. Occupy the property on which municipal taxes are imposed and D. Have been continuously assessed as the owner of residential property in the Town of Newcastle, or Town of Bowman ville, Township of Darlington, Township of Clarke, or Village of Newcastle for not less than 5 years preceding March 31, 1979 ' Application-must be made not later than March 31. 1979. If you believe that you qualify for the above, please apply in writing as soon as possible to * R.C. Bryden, * Tax Collector, 40 Temperance Street, ■ Bowmanville, Ontario. of Queen size $1.52 each or 3 for 4.45 Regular $1.43 each or 3 for 4.20 All Sheer $1.43 each or 3 for 4.20 Panty Hose -in one $1.52 each or 3 -for 4.45 Stockings .84c each or 3 for 2.45 K.nee Highs .67 c each.or 3 for 1.95 Anklets 58c each or 3-for 1.69 One'Size „94c each or 3 for 2.45 * 6 I , All other sales continue as . previously advertised. Whisper.Hosiery j I 1 I I 1 I g @ 0 u 1 1 ARMSTRONGS