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2 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, November 30, 1999 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Scugog businesses are learning as tax bills arrive whether they're winners or losers in the readjustments reassessment game. Merchants of all sizes saw either refunds or clawbacks of windfalls, as the munici- pality strives to deal with Details on rebates, clawbacks go out to businesses earlier ernment. to the tax- ation system implement- ed by the provincial gov- And while there are bound to be some unhap- py people out there, reac- ps RRR ¢ 3 Si CHRISTMAS "SHOWCASE OF EVENTS" Join the merchants of downtown Port Perry for some hands-on fun! Enter the Fashion makeover contest, try your hand at Knitting with fur, learn how to wire a dollhoi meet an artist or author, and more! tion has been largely muted, says township tax collector Bev Goslin. "Generally people are understanding," she said. "They understand it's not us that's doing it." The wild tax ride began last year when the province introduced a new assessment system aimed at creating more come JO Bring wE sponsored by the Downtown Port Perry BIA in Us priend! Some winners, some losers as tax bill released fairness in the system. Some properties that had been paying tax rates based on decades-old assessments saw sharp increases, while others received refunds, or underwent no major readjustment. In response to the com- plaints of those most hard hit, the government instructed municipalities to cap increases at 10 per cent of previous levels. Now those who saw refunds last time around are having to pay some of that money back to com- pensate for the caps. It's been a challenging and occasionally confus- ing time for municipal employees and 'business owners, said Ms Goslin. "It's been a learning experience, that's for sure," she said. She added that the township has tried to keep business owners apprised of the possible implications of tax adjustments as the DEC. WEEKENDS 'TIL CHRISTMAS Friday, Dec. 3 & Sat., Dec. 4 Saturday, Dec. 4 Sat., Dec. 4, & Sun., Dec. 5 Sun., December 5 Friday, Dec. 10 | Saturday, Dec. 11 Sat., Dec. I'l & Sun., Dec. 12 Sunday, December 12 Sunday, December 19 Henshall's Brock's On Foot . Shopper's Drug Mart Lishman's Native Focus Settlement Shops Petite Images Genuine Article Books Galore Just B-Cuz Lishmans Country Heirlooms 'Lakeview Business Centre _ Brock's/David's/Veni Vidi Lishmans .Sash Boutique Everlasting Memories Settlement House Shops Lishmans Just B-Cuz -Lishmans Just B-Cuz Strolling Christmas Carollers in Victorian dress Open House & Entertainment .,Shoe & Boot Protection by Tana Kid' s Day Shopping '* Meet the Sculptures: Geordie & Bill Lishman, Richard Vandeuvelen Ipm-4pm Meet the Artist: Debi Fitzgerald and Paul Livingston - 12 - 5 p.m. Book Signing with Paul Arculus and J. Peter Hvidsten & Georgia Brock 1-4 p.m. Make and Take Plant Kit Christmas Jazz with Bruce Gorrie Trio - starting at noon, chance to win a $50 gift certificate with purchase . Meet the Author, "Inside Camp X", Lynn-Phillip Hodgson 1-3pm Make & Take for Kids (ages 6 & up) Xmas ornament or pin ~ Knitting Machine Demonstrations |-4pm Open Hause, apple cider & cookies, 'till 9 p.m. Digimax 800K Camera demonstration Turbo Mp3 Portable Player - 'til 9 p.m. Fashion Makeovers: 2 p.m. Clothing by Brock's, Hairstyles by David's & Photos by Veni Vidi Meet the "Operation Migration" team |-4pm Scarfing Demonstation by Barb Marla Designs from 12- 3pm Open House - See our spectacular new floral display, Christmas Ideas for your home & gift "giving. Plants, fresh floral arrangements, gift baskets & more. Door prizes. 10-5 pm. Gourmet Food Samplings Trim Your Own Knits - activities and demonstrations - bring you knits! 1-4pm Stained Glass Demonstration 1-2 pm with "The Looking Glass" Wildlife Woodburning with artist Lorna Wilkinson 3-4 p.m. . Sneak Peak at our Millennjum line | - 4pm Make & Take for Kids (ages 6 & up) Christmas Gift for mom. : For Rater formation oy iese atl olor Special ovens, dates and Tmes.ete. Please contact the Scugog Tourist information Centre - = 269 Queen Street, Port Perry « Phone 005-085-4971 or email WWW.ScUgOg-TISLCON/IOUr om Saturday, Décerber 18 process has gone along. That has allowed some to make interim payments and avoid a huge tax bite in December, she said. Ms Goslin said that 242 taxpayers saw refunds in tax bills sent out in the past couple of weeks, while 110 face clawbacks. There is no average amount of money involved, she said: "There was a wide range. Some saw thousands of dollars, and others saw not as much." Meanwhile, there's been no loud hue and cry over taxes at the Scugog Chamber of Commerce offices either. President Les Gower said most mer- chants were more or less aware of what to expect, and that some have taken steps to prepare for tax time. He said some business owners may have overre- acted when given early estimates of the tax bills they may face. "My understanding was that there was some preliminary information given out but it wasn't finalized, so some people kind of jumped the gun," said Mr. Gower. He said that while the changes are inflicting pain on some taxpayers now, the system being implemented is a fairer one. "We've had a major change with this whole new process here," said Mr. Gower. "We had both individuals and compa- nies paying both more or less than they should have been for years, and so that's why it was some- what painful for some."