Region sets budget final Acton tax up 4482 The final tax hike in Halton Hills including town region and education is much less than expected On an average assessed house in Georgetown taxes went up 46 in Acton and in Esquesmg 71 On a percentage basis the increase is 7 per cent in Georgetown 7 per cent in Acton and 6 9 per cent in The average assessment used as examples Is in Georgetown in Acton and in Esquesing The town tax went up In Georgetown In Acton and 5 in Esquealng or percent in the own and percent in Esquesing The education tax went up In Georgetown 25 In Acton and 27 In a large drop for the previously announced hike of over 40 each The provincial factor which combined both the old and new factor brought the drop The over 40 In crease first announced was based entirely on the new factor The sudden jump prompted the incial government to phase in the new factor grod ually The regional levy for Halton H1113 went up only per cent in contrast to a startling jump for Milton of over per cent The regional levy for Georgetown Increased in Georgetown in Acton and In on the avcroged assessed home In dollars the total tax bill on these same homes Is now 644 in Georgetown in Acton and Win Esquesing The town share of the Credit Valley Conserv costs such as work to be done at the paper mill dam area and erosion on Armstrong Avenue has been included in the operating budget rather that debenturlng Treasurer Ray King pointed out with he Interest cost at present this Is the economical method to use No debenture debt lias been incurred this year by the town preserving Hills position as having the lowest per capita debt in the region There Is a possibility the regional levy could drop even further than the present 2 2 per cent increase since the large Increase in Hilton has prompted the provincial government to consider using a com bin of old and new factors there as was done In the educational levy Treasurer Ray King explained without the switch of the total sewer rates to the water bill the taxes Tax tale scoreboard Acton House assessed at 498 Town up 10 222 15 Education up 38 32187 347 Region up 6 39 67 74 22 House assessed at 638 Town up 91 Education up 27 93 324 Region up 6 67 74 20 Total up 643 Total Up 71 09 would be between 20 to 30 higher per home In the tax pic the town controls per cent the region per cent shareof cent goes to education In the ratio is per cent town taxes per cent region and percent education The total mill rate for Georgetown is up from 105 95 last year for Alton the mill rate Is 143 up from 133 13 last year and in the mill rate is 132 from 123 last year The treasurer emphasized the province has brought in regulations that soften the blow for 1980 but may not do so in Mayor Pete said the province has ident the Inequities of the tax situation but t know what to do about He explained a committee with members of various municipalities has been set up to see how changes should be Implemented At the region a freeze has been set on he said and a management study authorized An Inland Community Newspaper Out I a id I it ACTON ONTARIO WEDNESDAY APRIL 23 19BO T Cell Jelinek warns Gas will soar 50 a gallon Canadians will be paying cents more a gallon or gasoline within a year according to Halton MP Otto This is one of several startling predictions the Progressive Conservative Corporate Affairs critic made regarding oil prices In a postSpeech from the Throne interview Canada s situation is a serious matter and the government of Prime Minister Pierre addressed it properly in the Throne Speech Jelinek complained He predicted the Liberal will raise the well head price of oil by a barrel this year The short lived Tory regime had planned a barrel hike in 1980 It has been generally thought that the Liberals would keep their oil increase totclow the level the previous government proposed Many interpreted remarks during the winter federal election campaign as meaning the increase a Liberal government would negotiate with the producing provinces would be below the levels in the pact the Conservative government had ham mercd out Jelinek however soys the Tones believe the hike will be a barrel He noted the Liberals were asked about this in the House of Commons last week and Energy Minister Marc Lalonde would neither con firm nor deny this prediction He also believes the Liberals will bring in a hefty excise tax on gasoline A main plank In the Liberal election platform was an excise tax below the IB cents the Conservatives brought in with their December budget The IB cents a gallon tax hike was a major reason for the fall of the government said the Speech from the Throne says any excise hike will be below IB cents a gallon says he is convinced the Liberal excise taxwlllbearoundl5 or cents a gallon The Tory pricing plan would have resulted in a total increase in gasoline prices of 30 to cents MP figures the Liberal well head price jump and excise tax will mean a cents gallon hike within the year Plaza developer Sprackman opposes rezoning for industry Jerry Sprackman who wants to build a shopping centre on the east side of Acton is opposing develop ment of some land for industry on the north side of town Shopping Centres came to Hills Council last year with a plan for a square foot shopping plaza at Highway 7 and Church ill Road South The plaza would contain a supermarket as well as five other stores Council refused to rezone the land for commercial development and the Issue is to be settled at a future Ontario Municipal Board hearing In a letter to Minister of Housing Claude Bennett lawyers of Toronto have asked that the of about acres from rural to industrial north of the CNR tracks and west of Highway be referred OMB hearing In January council approved he to create more industrial land in the town The letter to Bennett notes one of the major issues concerning development in Acton is sewage treat ment plant capacity Our studies indicate the shopping centre proposed by Shopping Centres can viced The intrusion of acres of Industrial property into the town would have a significant Impact on the serving capacity on the town Sprackman lawyers note They fear the sewage capacity given for the in trial land will cut into the capacity they need for the shopping centre Sprackman lawyers urge Bennett leave the prop planned for industrial development zoned rural and suggest it be left out of the Acton urban area in the Official Plan clocks ttWttber to iranr todi to for fcburch Sunday j in Hat ton- inside The murder trial of former Acton resident Gail In Iowa has been postponed and likely won t slart for another three months Turn to page for details find Profiles on page News Digest Is on page 3 On the Editorials Our Readers Write and Bill Smiley are on page and Rock wood Digest Is on page Acton newest Industry has started operating and promises there will be no smell conning from thesul phur plant on Eastern Avenue Morconpage3 Strategy session for title match Acton High School a chess team the champs In Eait are bo ling Burlington Lord Elgin High School to day Wednesday for the Halloa championship title Above Johnson left and Andrew Shone play a tune up milch while club members Tom left Martin Osso and nob check Ihc plays Other club members Tony Wright and Allen were abient Photo by ELSTONE Students at Bennett will present the operetta Hansel and tonight lea worth Charlotte Pauline Jennifer Knap man Dana Wednesday and Thursday evening at at Acton High School Admls Richardson Patty Johnston Carolyn Valerie Kekic Jennifer hi 1 for adults and cents for students Pictured In this scene are Tracey worskl and Christine Couture Photo by CORD MURRAY Some cashing savings bonds by Diana Saving accounts at local banks can pay more Interest than Canada Savings Bonds and a few peo ple in Acton are taking advantage of it A quick survey of area banks shows there is a slight rise In selling of Canada Savings Bonds even if they haven matured manager of the Bank of Montreal says there is no big rush in Acton to sell Canada Savings bonds unlike what the larger centres have but there are more people than usual selling them before they have matured He added people are then turning around and investing in short term deposits which yield a higher Rick Devlin of Scotia Bank said he also noticed more activity than usual in cashing in of bonds and since no one Is buying Into the new series at the moment people are probably investing elsewhere or spending it John however said the Canadian per ial Bank of Commerce hasn seen any be the normal realm while Karen Watson assist ant manager at Toronto Dominion Bank says people t really thinking about their bonds until November when the government usually sells a new scries of bonds Last year they offered 12 per cent for the first year and 10 and a half per cent for the next six years Compound interest bonds can be bought in denominations of 1 000 and up wards The minimum Is then 500 and soon on regular interest bonds But private banks offer more interest on short term deposits from 13V per cent to Of course there arc a few requirements such as a minimum balance of at the Bank of Com mercc It varies from bank to bank If the term is less than a year the minimum can be up to but not over 993 says the bank deposits are a better In vestment because of the higher interest rates and because the rate is guaranteed if the funds stay in the bank for more than days If someone wished to withdraw the deposit the interest is adjustable to rate changes If a Canada savings bond is cashed before matur lly the Interest is calculated up to the first of the month Therefore both Mr and Mr Devlin agree the government should be looking at increasing theiryicld to become competitive And observed Mr Devlin every time the rates go up more money becomes available for Invest ment So despite hard times there still a lot of money around Investors It seems don t really care where their money is kept as long as it earning more for them Says Mrs Watson people just want the most for their money Developer donates 200 to town hall fund The Acton town hall restoration fund is 200 richer thanks to the generosity of a Georgetown developer and builder I m sentimental about old buildings said Al as he wrote a cheque for for the town hall fund He feels It time Georgetown people showed an interest in Acton and commented We re one town and I like to show it and hope others will follow suit Chairman of the town hall restoration committee George Elliott said We are very grateful for donations such as Mr Pilutli He noted the committee has received unsolicited donations from a number of people and If more people felt the same way about the project It could goahcad without any problems Pilutti explained as a native of Italy he grew up surrounded by old buildings that have been pre served for centuries and sees no reason why a young Halton outside workers accept 94 per cent hike country like Canada should tear down buildings only one century old He wondered how his grandchildren and great grandchildren will learn what the town was like if everything old is pulled down As a builder 1 hate to see old buildings with fine workmanship torn down he remarked He added no matter what the cost to restore a well built building it will stand for another 100 years it the basic structure is sound At his desk with old movie posters framed behind him Maybcwhennbulldlngofhls importance needs saving here George town the people of Acton will rally round A new contract agreement between Region and Its 120 outside workers officially went into force last Wednesday The members of Local of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers had quit their strike and returned to work last Tuesday after a special meeting of council last Monday approved the new contract from the regional side It was left up to the union to receive ratification from the member ship before it could bo signed by both parties The twoyear contract calls for a 25 per cent in crease retroactive to Jan l to be followed by a two per cent Increase June of thin year cent increase Jan In terms of dollar Increase per hour the retro active wage means cents more per hour to the average wage earner to be followed by 16 cents more 1 1981 It is a 4 per cent increase over two years A number of benefits were written into the con tract including an per cent employer paid dental plan Vacations have been expanded to allow three weeks after four years service Instead of the for 12 years One of the major Issues which arose during the strike a forced vacation plan for the workers calling for them to take their time off commencing April Hon a consecutive basis This forced vacation was withdrawn from the now agreement Georgetown developer Al holds cheque for town hall restoration fund