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Marg Palmer, Georgetown — “It stinks. We are taxed to death, This budget is not going to help the economy.” The People's Forum Local reaction to the NDP provincial budget Rick Stull, Georgetown. - “Everybody is frustrated. The NDP — spree is making everbody Eric Blechman, Georgetown. — “They (the NDP government) are taking more, wanting more, but not giving anything back. We need Ross Perot to fix the problem.” Carol Bursey, ‘Acton. - I am fed- up with tax increases. We are taxed to death. I have no control anymore on what any government does.” Matheson, Milton. - “I didn’t think it was that bau. I don’t like taxes going ur, but what else could Rae do?” Town treasurer is troubled by provincial budget By Oksana Buhel Wednesday’s provincial budget has Ray King, Town of Halton Hills’ treasurer, considerably trou- bled. “This is the second time municipalities have been hit,” he complained. Several weeks ago, the govern- ment revoked $147,000 in uncon- ditional grants, which had been promised to Halton Hills. Now the town will have to deal with an eight per cent retail sales tax exten- sion to property insurance, parking spaces in municipal and commer- cial lots and parking meters, as well as sales tax on sand and grav- el. “We’re a major purchaser of sand and gravel,” Ray admitted. He added that these new expens- es will cost the town approximate- ly $38,500, from July 1 to December 31. “That amounts to almost $200,000, which we will have to cut out of our budget by either increasing taxes or cutting back services.” King promises the issue will be addressed at Tuesday’s Town of Halton Hills council meeting. King admits there is as debt problem which must be addressed, but that “it’s frustrating that the government watched us make our budgets in March and didn’t tell us ‘til now that the we need to greatly slash our budgets.” The social contract issue has not yet been settled either. The provin- cial government plans to cut $285 million by having public service employees take off 12 days off a year. “The government insists that ratepayers will not be affected by this cut,” King said. “I don’t see how this is possible. People will obviously be affected by the. cut in service.” Vol. 1, No. 46 Nay 22, 1993 juss WEEKIEN 32 pages SUNDAY BRUNCH ~-232Guelph St, Georgetown 873-2254 Businesses confused and bitter over budget By Oksana Buhel Local businesses are very disillu= sioned with Wednesday’s provincial budget. “It’s sad to see the govern- Ment trying to put people out of jobs,” said Kevin Baldwin, part- owner of Brew Factory in town. Baldwin is one of hundreds of local business owners who will suf- fer because of the expanded sales tax, which will apply to insurance, sand, gravel, soil and clay, parking fees, warranty parts and labor and do-it-yourself brewing. “I’m really sweating now,” admitted Marg Bergsma, co-owner gravel, topsoil and fill. “We just fin- ished wrestling with the GST a cou- ple of years ago, and now we’ll have to explain a to our cus- tomers. It’s kind of sc: Business-owners red they will be affected by the expanded tax, but no one knows any details. Stanley Hardman, insurance bro- ker at Daly, Farnworth and McGregor Insurance Ltd. in Acton, confirmed his uncertainty while ponies a hypothetical situation. Accustomer owns two epee both insured at $1,000 in Dece: customer then buys a new car in July and insures it, cutting off the insurance on one of the older cars. The insurance would snewuabty increase, perhaps to $1,100. “What T’m not sure of is whether caer exits $100 is taxed, or is the $1,100 taxed,” admits Hardman. “This whole taxation issue regarding , insurance is a total anes Insurance has never been ible It'll be a totally different wey of administration.” Asked if the tax will be retroac- tive from January 1, 1 insisted that it would not happen. He hesitated, then added, “Well, it’s the government, so I guess it wouldn’t surprise any of us.” Bergsma is similarly confused. “We sell firewood and I don’t know if that’ll be taxed.” Bergsma Trucking i is threatened with a two-fold tax increase. “We have vehicle and liability insurance for our trucks, but I don’t know how much, or when it’!] increase.” Baldwin doesn’t even know what is being taxed. “It’s not the ingredi- ents or the rental equipment,” he insists. “It’s not even the service that’s being taxed, or the increase wouldn’t be as high. It must be the finished product.” Businesspeople are fed up. “I’ve taken courses, trained and worked hard to help my country,” insisted Bergsma, “but I don’t think this will help.” Baldwin agrees. “I’ve saved for 15 years to open this business,” he explained. “Everything. T own is on the line...and now this.” Bang-O-Rama For those not heading to the cottage or other climes this Victoria Day weekend, the Georgetown Optimists Club pre- sents Bang-O-Rama, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the Georgetown Fairgrounds Park. ‘Your independent voice in Halton Hills’ 50 cents includes G:S.T. litor’s note: On Wednesday, Halton Hills This Week was contacted by a member of North Halton, NDP MPP Noel Duignan’s staff to inform us that Mr. Duignan would be con- tacting the newspaper shortly into the provincial NDP budget which was tabled by Finance Minister Floyd Laughren. The phone call wasn’t made time for his comments and insight were ui i. We had pur; ly made space available for Mr. Duignan’s comments and insight so, to bor- row from a well-known phrase, ‘What you see, is what you get.’ Silence is golden Noel Duignan in Passes for the prety par 3 Trillium Course are now available. 20% off GREEN FEES! Special early-season offer applies to the 18-hole ‘Turtle Lake’ championship course. Limited time only. Reserve your tee-off time up to 7 days in advance. Challenge the home course of the Canadian PGA!! \853-0904 = wice demon SPRINGS GOLF CLUB S