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WHIITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1982, PAGE 5 Re-asses sment gives equity to property tax stem, minster says The recent hue and cry over property re- assessuient has blown the issue totally out of proportion according to Ontario Minister of Re- venue George Ashe. «In speaking to the an- nual meeting of the Brooklin and District, Progressive Conserva- tive. Association -last week, Ashe said, that the only reason the re- assessments are-being done is to bring sorne degree of equity into the property tax system. The MPP for Durham West, whose ministry is responsible for the assessment function, repeated his stat.ement that the provincial government is conduct- ing the re-assessment at the request of the muni- cipalities. Ashe told his admitt- edly'receptive audience that some 1,000 homes in the municipalities of Oshawa, Pickering and Whitby had been re- assessed recently. However, he stressed that'only those homes that have increased in value by more than $2,500 because of im- provements were- re- assessed. These, improvements, he added, include the construction of recrea- tion rooms, garages or car ports and swimming pools. They do, not in- clude routine main- tenance such as roof ré- tiling .or e xterior decorating.' Ashe said of the 4,000 employed in the revenue rninistry, 2,500 of them Work in theý property assessment branch. "«It is quite an. under- taking," he said.; The minister also repeated his stand that the province does not gain any money from re-assessment. It is pro- vided as.a service to the municipalities. '64e don't derive any money frorn that func- tion, " he said. However, Oshawa Mayor Allan Pilkey and other prominent local politicians have taken exception to that dlaimn. It is Pilkey's conten- tion that the province wil now have an excuse to, decrease the level of grant money given to the municipalities on the grounds that their assessment base bas grown. "As usaM.Ple money..,. "ýThe grant structure ,would not be affected detrimentally. " Ashe also told the- 40 people in. attendance that the province had not conducted an active re-assessrnent program for ten years and had, in fact, frozen' assess- ments at the 1971 levels. The former municipal politician also stressed that the re-assessment function attempts. to bring somne equity into the piroperty tax system. "When people are not paying their fair share," -Ashe said, "it more than 'olviously means that'other people are paying more than their fair share." Ashe said' that 'in Durhamý Region only three muniicipalities - Whitby, OshaWa and Pickering -had not been "Sectioned 86'd, that is, have not goie to the market value, assess-, ment system. He added that 0f'the, 837 inunicipalities i n tario, 349 had gone to the system. Those that have done so "not without some, pain," although Ashe stressed that the vast CONT'D -ON. PG. 16, HERE ARE A FEW EX DINUNG ROOM Harden 8 pc SOLID CHERRY Queen Anne............... . Harden 8 pc SOLID CHERRY Chippendale ............... Baetz 9 Pc SOLID MAHOGANY Queen Anne....... Kaufman 9 pc ROMAINE WILD CHERRY.. ............ Kaufman 9 pc GEORGIAN GRACE Chippendale......... -Kaufman 9 pc CHERRY Q. Anne. Zest 9 pc TRADITIONAL PECAN BEDRO OM Kaufman 6pc Queen Anne WILD CHERRY.............. Harden 6 pc SOLID CHERRY Queen Anne WllIIamsburg.. Stickly 6 pc SOLI D CHERRY COLONIAL AM ERICAN STYLE.. Roxton 6pc SOLID PINE' Colonil ................... (Occasional) Kauf man 1 pc COM MENTS OAK Headboard .*............... Kaufman 1 pc COMM ENTS OAK Valance ................... Kaufman 1 pc REMINISCENCE OAK Washstand N lght Table.... SOFAS & LOVE SEATS Sterling Tux. arm floral sofa.. Sterling SectionallIvory/Belge... Sterling Love seat button back (pair),..................... Sterling Lawson Sofa Salmonl Olive...................... Sterling Rolled Arm Sofa Camel Velvet....................- Sterling Roiled Arm Loveseat Camel Velvet............... By COUNCILLORJýOE BUGELLI West Ward Chairman, Operations Committee Since this is my first column of 1982, may I start by wishing the management and staff of the Whitby Free ,Press and ail their Ireaders a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. 1Those who have Peen.following coundil's activity recently would have noted- a resolution which wrnl beneficially affect new home buyers in Whitby. I in-- troduced a motion which r eceived unanimous Cou 'n- cil' support that, effectively puts, the onus of disclo- sure of information on the developers and through them on the builders. Many times since I have been on council have we faced a great nuniber of new home buyers who felt cheated and deceived by agents of 'developers. School sites, park designations, zoning restrictions, housing mix, commercial sites and items of this nature are, unfortunately, described in the light New, bylaw will aid h.ome buyer. that ia most advantageous to the builders and the new home bûyer relies on this information as being accurate. Only after having purchased their homes and further building activity takes place do these new home owners start taking notice and lnevitably corne to the town to seek re medies. SAlthough this new by-l1!w will, not completely resolve ail such problems, it is, I feel, a major step in the right direction. The fact that developers and planners alike tried-to discourage this move attests to. the real need for protection of the- unaware and uniniformed home purchaser. What I have attfrnpted to do is a two-fold exer- cise. First was the by-law itself which, put the *developers on guard against possible misrepresent- ationi by their agents. Seconaly, and more import- antly, I feel we have succeeded in bringing the mat- ter to the attention- of the news media which, through extensive reportmng,- have assisted us in educating the new home purchasers of the potential pit-fails.' I arn personally grateful for the responsible reporting of this and other newspapers ini achieving this goal. A TRADITION IN VALUE AND FINE FURNITURE ýINCE 1929 WVINTER SALE 50ý /0 ,ALDEATET AMPLES' SOFAS & REG< SLE LOVE SEATS REG.SALE Snyder Sofa Trad. roi led arm (f loral)...... "'.......... 7900 549 Snyder sofa Navy and Pink 9400 6900 Floral..................... 940 690 Roxton Sofa & Chair .......... 6195 3995 Harden'Chippendale camel back 6195 3995 Gateway Queen Anne love seat 4995 2295 Eurodesign Contemporary 49 225 Sectional .................. 7500 5500 Modulex Traditional Floral.. 500 5500 Kauf man Sofa Top Grain Leather 4195 2495 OCCASIONAL CHAIRS Snyder Queen Anne Wing 4195 2995 *wlnevelvet................. Snyder Chippendale 8100 5695 Tufted back ................ Snyder Queen Anne wing rose 8581 4995 velvet ..................... Kauf man Chai r Ottoman Top --3551 2995 Grain Leather............... Sterling Queen Anne Wing (several cols> .............. Harden "THE QUEEN of SCOTS" with Cherry show wood....... 395 199 Harden Host Chair Woven Fabric Vogel Swivel rocker (aprcot).... 199 Vogel Swlvel rocker (wedgwood> ............... 439 329 Vogel Swivel rocker (wine).. Lazy-boy Several............ SECRETARY'S 1795 1295 CURIO'S & DESK'S 2768 1899 Kaufman Georgian Grace_ 11Limited Edîtion" Chippendale 1189 799 Secretary.* This Item'Ilmited to 200 cabinets World Wide One 1678 1175 avallable................... Kauf man "The Roll Top" l8th 1319 649 cent. charm. Locking top &file drawer. Vour choice of Wild 1019 699 Cherry or Oak...*............ *SECRETARY'S CURIO'S-& DESI9S. Harden "The Alexander Hamil- 1899 999 ton" Solid Cherry Williamsburg Secretary.................. 1649 1099 Hickory Couintry French, 1799 1399 Tradîtional O-ak with parquet top 1795 1299 1199 599 .-- 4195 1499 899 we navo alarge selectlon of curmos, 1789 1129 desks,> secretarys by such famous 2000 1399, makers of fine furniture as BRAN DT, 3165 2249 SUPERIOR, KIMBALL. OCCASUONAL FURNItURE 1035 799 HardÏen "John Goddard" Block Front SOLI D CHERRY......... 769 599 Wells l8th Century Lowboy .. Brandt Handkerchief Table .. 849 589 'Brandt Butiers Tray on Stand ... Kaufman Carpathian Elm Sofa 2270 1599 Table .......... .......... Brandt Chairside Wine Table... From 569 Harden Wythe Hill Bunching Table ..................... 899 699 Harden Fold Up Table........ 699 649 Brandt Antique Replica 399 9 Console Table ............... Wells Cane & Wood Cocktail 439 299 Table ..................... 439 359, Donelle Large Decoratîve Mirror. 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