Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act

 

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) released the numbers for local property assessments on December 6th.

This year, South Dundas is seeing a 1.19 per cent increase. The average home in South Dundas will see a 5.48 per cent increase.

According to South Dundas Treasurer Shannon Geraghty, “the 5.48 per cent provided by MPAC represents the increase in assessments from 2011 to 2012 due to the four-year phase-in by MPAC. Therefore, from 2011 to 2012 the average increase in assessment for property owners could be approximately 5.48 per cent.”

The four-year phase-in was introduced by MPAC in 2008 and began in 2009. According to MPAC: “To provide an additional level of property tax stability and predictability, the market increases in assessed value between 2005 and 2008 will be phased-in over four years.”

“The 1.19 per cent is based on a combination of the loss in assessments and the new growth within the township,” Geraghty explained.

“Assessment loss arises from property owners appealing their assessments and thus the decision by MPAC to reduce the assessment creates an assessment loss overall for the township.”

“The 1.19 per cent growth component results in approximately $15,000 to $30,000 in new tax revenue for the 2012 year.”

Geraghty predicted, “this number (1.19 per cent) should be favourable to the residents of South Dundas as it shows a small growth within the community which we hope we can continue to build on.”

“As far as 2012, the increase in tax revenue will be included in the 2012 bottom line during the 2012 budget.”

When asked if there was anything readers should know or understand, he offered: “The overall outlook at tax rates and how much an owner will pay in 2012 is difficult to predict until we have a better forecast on revenue and expense projections, which are completed in the 2012 budget.”

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The Morrisburg tennis courts have received a second reprieve that will see them left as is until at least spring.

A group of a dozen volunteers have organized themselves in an effort to save the tennis courts in Morrisburg.

The delegation attended the Oct 2 council meeting to discuss the courts’ issues and potential actions to keep the courts in Morrisburg.

“All of our children use or have used the tennis courts while growing up, and we would like to see this valuable facility remain available for future generations,” said Martin Streit, who spoke on behalf of the organization. “We believe that the township should invest its resources in the improvement of the condition and accessibility of the courts, not their demolition.”

“Despite their current limitations, the courts are used by local residents and by Morriburg Public School students during recess and physical education classes,” said Streit. The school’s tennis club has about 50 members.

The tennis courts are located on lands owned by the Upper Canada District School Board and Chartwell, and the group recognizes the complications that this ownership situation causes for the municipality.

“The courts are owned by UCDSB and Chartwell: Their interests in the properties are paramount and will affect the future of the courts and all actions recommended,” said Streit.

Nonetheless, the group has ideas to improve the condition, public access and use of the courts.

Condition-wise a volunteer has weeded the courts and the group is looking to find a way to repair the cracks with a long term view to resurfacing.

They are looking at ways to allow the public to more easily access a key for the locked courts and to increase public awareness and use of the facility.

“We are volunteers and we are willing to give our time to help, but we need township support and assistance to make this work,” said Streit.

“Obviously the tennis courts are getting more use than we thought they were,” commented South Dundas councillor Jim Graham, who recognized that the issue of not having a key readily available obviously deters more use and has to be changed immediately.

“Underlying this whole issue, is the issue of where Chartwell stands,” said South Dundas councillor Evonne Delegarde, pointing out that the first step has to be hearing from Chartwell. What she would like to see is the school take over the courts “If the school was willing to take over and run the facility, I’d support that,” she said.

South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan said that the municipality will need to see a long term commitment for use of the property from Chartwell before they could justify any large investment in the courts. However, he suggested that if Chartwell does not want to make a long term commitment, perhaps the municipality could look into fixing up one good court on the UCDSB property.

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South Dundas council is officially requesting that the SD&G Library Board reverse their decision to close the Williamsburg branch of the library.

South Dundas considered the resolution at the May 21 regular council meeting and unanimously agreed that they want the board to reverse their decision and find a way to provide alternate service of more than just a book drop to for Williamsburg. 

The request also states that the group who have been working to save the library, the library board and the township work together in the endeavour to continue to provide library service in Williamsburg.

“We need to put the books in the kids hands,” said South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan.

This resolution is only one step in a process to save the library. 

With the township signing a lease agreement with TR Leger for the municipal building in Williamsburg, the municipality will have to find an alternate location for a Williamsburg library.

The library board, which operates independently from the municipalities, will have to discuss how this request will be handled at an upcoming board meeting. 

It will be up to them to decide whether or not they are willing to reconsider their decision.

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