MAJOR TAX INCREASE DESPITE FoTTSA PROTEST ……..Bitter lesson for cottagers
Below is the complete text of the FoTTSA presentation of March 9, 1994 8:00 p.m. at the Simcoe County Board of Education delivered by Al Taylor.
“Madam Chairman, Trustees Ladies and Gentlemen
My name is Al Taylor, President of the Federation of Tiny Township Shoreline Associations, an incorporated body. We are an umbrella association of member associations on the shore of Tiny Township from Concession 1 to Penetang Bay. There are some 17,000 taxpayers within that area. The Federation brings news about matters of concern to these taxpayers through a directly mailed, semiannual publication “The Tiny Cottager”.
75% of the education taxes collected for education come from taxpayers in associations within The Federation’s orbit. That comes to $7,475,223 we pay to the Simcoe County Boards of Education, Public and Separate, for a service we cannot use. We are here to tell you these residents are opposed, strongly opposed, to any increase in education taxes. You have planned badly, negotiated poorly, and we cannot further fund your wants. You have not lived up to your mandate as trustees.
For example, when you did not receive the expected provincial funds in 1993, you continued your capital expenditure planning as if the province would suddenly come to it’s senses and send you all the money you needed. You just didn’t get it. There is no more money. The province doesn’t have it and the ratepayer doesn’t have it. We have the right to demand that the school boards budget wisely and spend frugally. You have no right to raise taxes to cover your poorly planned expenditures. The message is clear and in case you still don’t get it – There is no more money! The time is coming when you will be told how much you will get, not what you want.
Tiny Township is already awash in unpaid taxes in excess of $1.4 million. If you increase taxes many seniors and residents on fixed income will have to suffer further. Is that fair? 75% of our taxes fund the Simcoe Boards of Education and that is a 30% increase over the past 3 years. You are running an illegal deficit of over $2M under the Education Act. This is madness! The well is dry! The cutting and slashing has to be done now! This is the 90’s; the golden age of the 80’s is long gone. This is your wake up call!
Do not raise our taxes!!! We haven’t got the money.
You still are proceeding on the assumption that if there is a shortfall that all you have to do is raise the tax bill. You just don’t get it! We don’t have it.
We have sent Joan Jensen, our trustee, letters and petitions from 100’s of residents opposing any increase. In fact, we expect a rollback.
Many of these letters are from seniors and residents on fixed income. They have had to make painful sacrifices to get by. They just can’t run an overdraft at the bank or demand better interest rates. They sink a little further every time they get hit with a tax increase. Do what they do. Budget to live within their income. Do it now, while you have the choice. These people have no choice. They are forced to live within their means. You must do the same.
These residents are on to you like a dog with a bone. They will view any increase as an irresponsible cover up. You won’t get away with it. Put your house in order before you come asking for more money. The dictionary definition of “trustee” is one who is trusted, one who manages property or money for another. Live up to your elected position. Manage our money responsibly and well. We’re watching and we’re watching closely. No tax increase!
MIND BOGGLING
Once the budget is struck, it is sent out to the various municipalities and the budget request is dispersed equally throughout Simcoe County. There is one formula for equalization at the Board level, another at the Provincial level and yet another at the Municipal level. It is complicated and is not easily explained nor understood. The document I received from the Simcoe County Board of Education shows Barrie with a 1.88% increase, while YOUR tax increase in Tiny is 7.73%
Jurisdictions with a large commercial assessment argue taxes are too high now and high taxes inhibit commercial growth. Residential assessment has to absorb the tax hikes. All shoreline owners, front and rear lots, have the highest assessment because of our proximity to the water, so the system, in effect, says we should absorb the largest share of the new tax hike.
When this Council VOTED FOR restructuring, we lost the only commercial base we had, and, as predicted, we are now being asked to pay for that fiasco with tax dollars we don’t have. Seasonal residents are looked upon as the business of Tiny. In the summer of 1992, an official of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MMA), the ministry that pushed for restructuring, met with the Clerk of Tiny Township. Following this meeting a memo was given to Council by the Clerk, dated September 18, 1992, which reported the MMA view: “The financial impact on Township residents is minimal and your residents (a large seasonal population) have the ability to pay.”
This is only the beginning, by the way. Remember, 95% of all voters in Tiny voted against restructuring. How do you like your representation so far?
One thing for sure, the cottagers will take a big tax hit. FoTTSA has a plan and we have support from other groups in Simcoe to make sure we dont’t go unnoticed. The Senators rolled back their increase, Mila sent back the cheques for the furniture. Why? Because public opinion was so strong it forced a response.
We are in serious trouble in Tiny Township, and, if we don’t get heavily involved NOW we will be taxed out of the family cottage. Let’s do something together, now. FoTTSA received support from all along the shore in getting letters and communications on the education tax issue. We worked together as never before; we can accomplish a lot more.
FoTTSA can speak for you with a strong united voice. Write or fax me to get involved. We need volunteers like you, dedicated to fighting for fair taxation. Help us to get a fair shake.
Al Taylor, President FoTTSA, The Federation of Tiny Township Shoreline Associations 2219 Portway Ave. Mississauga, Ontario L5H 3M8 fax: 905-274-1339
