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8 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 8, 2006 Interim tax bills mailed before Council okays it By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Residents who received their Town of Oakville interim property tax bill in the mail Monday will be happy to hear that by bedtime Monday, Town council had authorized it. In a gaffe for which council claimed public responsibility, the interim tax bills were mailed before Council officially authorized them. It was done to meet the require ment for residents to have 21 days to pay the first installment -- due Feb. 25. It also aimed to save taxpayers interest charges -- $50,000 per week -- if the Town didn't have the cash on hand to pay Halton Region and the school boards their share of the taxes, which are due Feb. 28. The Town collects taxes for municipal services, and also for regional services like policing, water and sewer, and education. The Town is required to hand over to the Region and school boards, their share of the taxes by certain dates -- Feb. 28 and April 30. Council heard Town staff had aimed to get the interim tax bill approved by Council mailing of the by the end of January bills. -- however January Council was a month that had retired behindfive Mondays so that closed-doors for while they had com two hours after mittee approval by local business Jan. 24, there was no man John Hogg council meeting held appeared to com on Jan. 30 for ratifica plain that in his tion. reading of the Instead, ratifica Municipal Act, tion went to Council the Town is col Feb. 6 -- the same M ayor Ann M ulvale lecting more date residents were to taxes from some receive their bills, and four days after residents on the interim billing than the requirement to get them mailed. is permitted. Interim tax bill preparation also Hogg said that in his opinion, had to wait on notional tax rates from the legislation prohibits the Town the Region, which weren't available from collecting more than 50 per until Jan. 11. cent of last year's taxes in the inter Mayor Ann Mulvale said Council im levy. took full responsibility and commit After properties were reassessed ted it won't happen again. this year by the Province, that Things that could help include reassessment will leave some proper getting notional tax information ty owners paying more taxes and from the Region earlier and calling a some less than last year. special council meeting for approval. Taxes are calculated by multiply While the once controversial new ing a property' s assessed value by the Town noise by-law was also on local tax rate -- a scheme argued to Monday's agenda, it was taxes that allow more equitable distribution of stole the show -- and not simply the the property tax share. However, Hogg claimed that reassessment coupled with the Town's method of interim tax billing, would leave some " |n some cases, the j j Qwn js more | .. ... .j ^ Should, sooner j than it should and j effectively ends lip | i paying more than f ,, ; The Town argued 50 per cent of last V ear' that for those who will year's taxes on the ; experience higher taxes interim levy. " Hogg : for the year, the inter"In some cases, ' , im bill calculated as the Town is billing more than it the Town does, gives ample notice of should, sooner than it should and the hike jn taxes, time to pay, and effectively ends up getting an inter- time to appeal property assessment est-free loan for the first half of the to the provincial Municipal Property year," charged Hogg. Assessment Corporation (MPAC) by According to Town Finance MPAC's March 31 deadline. Director Patti Elliott-Spencer, howThe final Oakville 2006 tax rate ever, the provincial legislation should won't be set until the Town finalizes be read as a whole, and that while its budget in March. Any differences one section reads as Hogg stated, are straightened out in the final tax another reads that if the council of a billing. municipality is of the opinion that While the Town is responsible for taxes levied on a property are too low tax rate increases, it' s MPAC that sets or too high, it may adjust those taxes, the assessed value of a property The Provincial legislation also against which the local rate is provides for any property owner who applied. does not want to pay more than 50 "Assessment shifts are not conper cent of Jast year' s taxes on the trolled by this Council," said interim tax bill, the ability to take that Mulvale. getting an interestproperty owners free loan for the first U P with the TownHowever there appears to be a lack of pUbHc knowledge about that provision, so council voted to place an ad to get the word 1 outT1, T r & 9 OAKVILLE Q u a lit y o f L ife valentine activities including games and crafts. 1 - 4 p.m., regular admission. Erchless Estate. Enjoy the Oakville Scottish County Dance Group and special guest Major Piper Allan Eaton from the Halton Regional Police Band as the museum honours, the heritage of Oakville and its founding family the Chisholms. 1- 4 p.m. for more details call 905.338.4400. What's Happening in OakviHe incorrect. It should be 905.827.0461. Website is www.oakvillenewcomersclub.com February 12, Valentine Fun at Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate - A family afternoon of CORRECTION - Your Town Guide, page 30, The Oakville Newcomers' Club phone number is February 19, Oakville Heritage Day - Celebrate Oakville Heritage Day at Oakville Museum at 4 rezone the subject lands from Agricultural "A4 ' zone to the Residential " R12" zone to facilitate the construction of 3-single-, detached dwellings. (Note: This proposal may be subject to modification). Following this meeting" a staff report will be prepared and presented at a future public meeting before the Planning and Development Council. Questions or written submissions may be directed to: David de Groot, Planning Services Department, Town of Oakville, P.O. Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON, L6J 5A6; Telephone: 905.845.6601 ext. 3031; e-mail: ddegroot@oakville.ca. Dated at the Town of Oakville this 8th day of February 2006. 0UN0A8 STRB8T PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE P rop o sed Z o n in g B y -la w A m e n d m e n t fo r th e N o rth East C o rn e r o f E ig h th Line a n d N o rth R idge Trail, 2 4 5 7 E ig h th Line b y Pretis C a n a d a Inc. File: Z.1410.18 Members of the public are invited to provide input at this Open House hosted by the Planning Services Department on: T hursday, M a rc h 9, 2 0 0 6 - 7 p .m . O a k v ille T o w n H all, 1 2 2 5 T ra fa lg a r R oad D e ta ils o f th e p ro p o s a l w ill be p re s e n te d a t th is tim e . The purpose of the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment is to JOIN A T O W N OF OAKVILLE CO M M ITTEE A N D M AKE A DIFFERENCE O a k v ille p ro p e r ty o w n e rs a n d /o r re s id e n ts , 18 ye a rs o f a g e o r o ld e r, a re in v ite d t o a p p ly t o s it o n a T o w n c o m m itte e . There is currently one vacancy on the following committee: Details on vacancy numbers and committee descriptions can be obtained on the Town's website or from the Clerk's Department. Eligible persons can fill out an application at the Oakville Municipal Office, Clerk's Department or on-line at www.oakville.ca/advisory.asp. Application forms must be received by Friday, February 17, 2006 either on line or mailed to the Clerk's Department, Town of Oakville, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON L6J 5A6. By-law 2006 - 024 is intended to introduce amendments to the current Sign By-law regulations relating to the placement of election signs on Town property in order to clarify where such signs are permitted and regulate the means of affixing these signs to Town structures. The proposed by-law will be before Council's Administrative Services Committee for review at its meeting on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 prior to its consideration by Council on Applicants are responsible to ensure that the Clerk's Department has received their application. Town Council will appoint qualified candidates for citizen vacancies based on consideration of recommendations from its' Striking Committee. Please note that all applicants will be notified of the final determination of their application. For more information about the appointment procedure, please call the Clerk's Department at 905.845.6601, ext. 3136, or e-mail ctino@oakville.ca ACCESSIBILITY A DVISO RY CO M M ITTEE * February 20, 2006. Both meetings will commence at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. Further information with respect to the proposed By-law 2006-024 will be available from the Clerk's Department or on the Town's website (www.oakville.ca) on or after Friday, February 10, 2006. Telephone inquiries may be directed to Phil Bouillon, Assistant Clerk, at 905.845.6601 ext. 3093 or by e-mail at pbouillon@oakville.ca. Tel. 905-845-6601 NOTICE OF INTENTION TO PASS A N A M E N D M E N T TO THE OAKVILLE SIGN BY-LAW TAKE NOTICE that Oakville Council will consider adopting By law 2006-024, being a by-law to amend the ToWn^of Oakville Sign By-law 2006-005, at its meeting on February 20, 2006. For inform ation on Town meetings, services and programs visit w w w .oa kville ca 1225 T ra fa lg a r Road, PO Box 310, O a kville , ON L6J 5A6