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NT I BA CT, v5h LT. FETA V 1517 Tor] 8 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, June 27, 1989 BATTLE LINES It would appear as if battle lines are being drawn amongst township residents over high tax- es and future facilities. Both sides of this issue, those wanting to see new recreation facilities built; and those not wanting any further tax increases; are made up of Scugog residents concerned about what is happening in this township. Taxes this year increased dramatically for many Scugog residents and they are damn mad at the thought of having to pay more taxes for building more facilities. : On the other hand, a group seeking ways for the township to be able to increase facilities for residents is looking to the future. Scugog's opulation has outgrown its facilities, and the ecreation Group is looking for ways for the township to be able to afford to provide them for the residents. Last Thursday, a public meeting was held at the municipal offices to discuss the feasibility of building an arena, a community hall, an aquat- ics complex and various ancillary services at the Scugog Centre site (Scugog Arena). Everyone knows, (even those proposing new facilities) that taxes are too high! These resi- dents pay the same high taxes as the rest of us, but they also realize something must be done to plan for the future. Although | was unable to attend a public 'meeting to discuss the Scugog Centre Feasibility Study last week, | have been told that a delega- tion from the newly formed group "Citizen Against Unjust Taxes" were there. But unfortu- nately they interrupted a meeting that was de- signed to discuss the feasiblity of building new facilities and how to achieve their goals. This was not the right forum for the CAUT to barge into with their concerns over high taxes. It was not a meeting of Scugog Council, Durham Region Council or the Board of Educa- tion. These are the three bodies for the CAUT group to approach if they want to see a change RKRandom Jottings by }. Peter Hvidsten in the taxing system (and who doesn't). Nobody wants to pay more taxes, anymore than they want to die. But both are a fact of life, and the CAUT lost some credibility last Thursday by storming a meeting that had nothing to do with setting tax rates. There is little that can be done this year about taxes (except pay them), but if the CAUT wants to be really effective, they should begin lobbying the Region and the School Board right now. Those two bodies consume about 75% of the taxation budget, and only a significant cut in their budgets could hope to hold or lower taxes. By all means, residents should make their concern known to Scugog Township, but if any- one thinks that cutting the township's already too small roads budget, fire department budget, Mayor and councillor salaries etc., is going to m : e a bit of difference, you're just kidding your- self. Unfortunately, most of the increases in our: taxes comes from increased demands by the public. We all want good roads, snow removal, garbage pick-up, street lights, new schools, ex- cellent health and recreational facilities, and the list goes on. The money to provide these servic- es and facilities comes from taxation. While not condoning the large increases Scugog residents were hit with in 1989, | think those opposing the hikes should make sure the lobby the right groups when trying to make their point. Scugog just can't sit still for the next ten years and let their facilities fall any further behind than they are now. This township is badly in need of a second ice pad at the Scugog Arena; a swimming pool, a banquet hall that can hold over 225 people, and most definitely a new municipal office. Where is all the money going to come from? | don't know, but if we don't allow groups to plan for these immediate and future needs, it's going to cost our children a whole lot more than it is 2-1 YM Kentucky Fried Chicken SNACK PAK COUPON *2 pieces of Kentucky Fried Chicken * French Fries GOOD FOR ONE SNACK PAK WHEN YOU BUY A SNACK PAK AT THE REGULAR PRICE costing us today. Take this coupon to: HWY. 7A, PORT PERRY Expires July 16, 1989 at the 10t rt Perr) PICK-YOUR-OWN BERRIES | MAIR'S Jugdy Township Phone: 985-8295 Letters 2a About skunks & taxes To the Editor: The stories on tax rates and rabies in the June 20 edition came together for myself and some of my neighbours in the Balsam St./Simcoe St. area in a most distressing manner. My wife, just before the Vic- toria Day weekend, requested the assistance of the Regional Animal Control Officer in eliminating a female skunk that had nested under our garden shed. Our main concern with the skunk was that it was wandering around the neighbourhood during the day showing virtually no fear of humans, which indicated the possibility of rabies. The animal control officer ap- praised thesituation and advised that the one and only live trap for the Region was in use. It was sug- gested that we rent a trap at our expense, catch the animal and release it in the wild ourselves. It was reluctantly agreed that as long as the skunk was not trapped on the weekend, when the animal control officer is not on duty, the animal control officer would release the animal if we caught it. At no time did the animal control officer express any real concern about the animal having rabies. On reading the article on rabies I contacted Agriculture Canada to see if the skunk that was shot on June 10 could have been the mate to the one that nested under the shed or perhaps the same animal. It was not possible to so deter- mine. I was told, however, that the animal control officer covers a large area and is quite busy as a result. In the article on taxes Mayor Hall makes the statement that we are getting value for our tax dollars. Well here is one instance where not only did we get nothing for our dollars, the health of the community may very well have been left in some jeopardy. Need I say more. Value for money is a growing concern for everybody these days and it would seem that our Mayor has his work cut out for him in making sure that the people who voted for him get theirs. C.A. Pothier, Port Perry. Plea to governments (From page 7) rio and we like Canada. We are not fond of Durham Re- gion. It has done exactly what it said it would not do when it came into being in 1974 - raised our taxes and lowered our returns. I live on a dirt road, half a mile from the East Durham boundary. In this wet weather there are two inches (that's Imperial Measure for the rest of you bureaucrats) of mud on the road. I can't justify ding the mon- ey on gas for a 30 mile, bone rat- tling, round trip to bring my chil- dren to the wonderful parks and sports facilities in Port Perry. We have no sewers, no water, no gar- bage pickup. My husband and I are in the pro- cess of building our own home. We can't afford the cost of man contractors so a lot of our own el- bow grease is going into the con- struction. We are building our new home in Cartwright. We like living in Cartwright. It is our right as law- abiding, due-paying Canadians to live where we choose. When our house is finished we would like to be able to afford to live in it. Why should we leave our roots because various levels of government can- not seem to control their spend- ing. It now takes two pay cheques to run one household. I am sure many mothers would dearly love to stay at home, at least with their pre-schoolers, but it is more es- sential to work to pay laxes, eat, pay taxes, clothe the children, pay taxes, provide them with decent shelter, pay taxes, and supply their families with the basic ne- cessitics of lifewith whatever is left over after taxes. All levels of government will have to learn to tighten their belts and BUDGET their finances. After all, with the recent tax in- creases that is what every house- hoi) in Durham Region will have to do. Sincerely yours, Valerie Ellis Cartwright Twp. Support the train To the Editor: It was with great pleasure and admiration that I read of the "Corridor Summit." The Mayors of Toronto, Mississauga, Windsor, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec Ci- ty met in Ottawa with the Transport Minister to voice their concerns over the cutbacks to Via Rail. The Mayors felt that these cutbacks would have serious and lasting effects on their communities. The people of Scugog and sur- rounding areas who board the train at Myrtle everyday deserve more. than Scugog Council's resolution of supporting the train until some other form of transpor- tation is available. Mayor Hall, an opportunity presents itself. Don't let Durham Region force Scugog into accep- ting a Go Bus to Whitby. Support the Train! David Lester, Port Perry, Ont. ter to the editor. Letters to the Editor ... our policy It has always been the policy of this newspaper to encourage our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express their opinions and view- points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters col- umn helps make a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so. Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous let- While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must con- tinue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer. IAD IR wt Cn BRT I TaN BW PRs