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APRIL I8, 1973 TERRACE BAY NEWS PAGE 9 Information Ontario - cont'd from both government and non-government agen- cies. But this has been the story of Northern Affairs to date. We are able to succeed be- cause of co-operation. If you have a problem you wish to discuss call me at 229-II53 or drop into the office. We are located in the Peninsula Building, Marathon. NSSSAA BADMINTON TOURNAMENT The Lake Superior High School badminton team travelled to Marathon on Thursday, April 5th. to participate in the NSSAA badminton tournament. The senior team placed second among the seven participating teams. Although the jun- ior team did not place they played very well. Individual standings were as follows: Michael Souliere - first in junior boys singl- es; Clover Dukes and Kim Gellert - first in senior mixed doubles; Lonnie Connelly and Craig Fischer - first in senior boys doubles. Each of the above won seven and lost none. Carson Fischer - third in senior boys singl- es; Cathy Graham and Wendy McMillan - third in senior girls doubles; Patricia McGrath and Kirk Fischer - third in junior mixed doubles; each of the above won five games and lost two games. Congratulations to the team for their eff- orts in Marathon and good luck at the NWOSSA tournament in Dryden. HIGHLIGHTS OF 1973 ONTARIO BUDGET In the new Ontario Budget one of the ob- jectives is a new revenue-sharing deal for Ontario municipalities called the Property Tax Stabilization Plan. Several of the grants within this plan are first the Resource Equal- ization Grant. This grant is intended to strengthen the fiscal base of less prosperous municipalities and make Ontario's total grant structure more equitable. This grant is to be paid to all municipalities with a per cap- ita equalized assessment below $I0,000. The second is called a General Support Grant by which all municipalities will get a grant equal to 4% of their I972 net general buy. In an incentive for municipal economy this rate will rise to 6% if the municipality contained its growth rate to 8% or less. On the other hand if the municipality increases its spending by I2% or more the support rate will drop to 2%. cont'd next column The government finally recognized the fact that the cost of living is higher in Northern Ontario and will provide an additional grant equal to I0% of the I972 net general levy to all municipalities in Northern Ontario. Another is the increased grants for polic- ing costs which will increase from $I.75 to $3.00 per capita. Some additional reform measurers that will hopefully be of assistance to local governments will be the increased support of school boards.and a new payment of $50. per public and provincial psychiatric hospital bed. Other forms of assistance will be library grants, transit assistance, compu- ter traffic control, New Regional Government Welfare Costs, water and sewage, museum grants etc. While the municipalities seem to have gain- ed by this budget how did the individual do? Well now, you can buy a magazine or periodical that Mr. White (treasurer) decided not to tax and go to your favourite restaurant and have a meal up to $4.00 (previously $2.50) and not pay sales tax. When you're finished that you can go home and plant your flowers you bought sales tax exempt and build that dog house for the spunky little terrier you bought sales tax exempt. If you're a commutter, tourist or truck driver on the Burlington Bay and Garden City Skyways there will be mo more toll and if you're a senior citizen you can enjoy Ontario's public recreational areas free as the camping and day fees are eliminated for you. There are other little goodies like a Sales Tax Credit and for the Pensioner, a Pensioners Tax Credit. All of this goes along with the Property Tax Credit. Income tax time next year should really be fun ...... All this is too good to be true. Now you must be asking yourself that fatal question "What do I have to pay for what I get?" The first thing the sales tax rate will be increa- sed from 5% to 7% effective May Ist, I973. Energy sources such as electricity, natural gas and coal will be taxed at 7% effective July Ist, 1973. (So probably it'll be a lot of sweaters and eating by candlelite.) Of course, this tax applies ony to heating and lighting uses and will not apply to basic production and manufacturing uses. Gasoline and diesel fuel will be subject to a 2¢ per gallon increase effective July I, I973. This puts gasoline at over sixty cents per gallon. This is one of the things that put Northern Ontario taxpayers into that higher cost of living bracket which resulted in the special grant for Northern Municipalities. I'm still waiting for my grant for being a Northerner.