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COPY 65¢ «i acasn 32 Pages By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Three Toronto construction com- panies have taken action to claim close to $700,000 owed to them for work on West Shore Retirement Living Corporation. Documents at the province's Land Registry office in Whitby show that three companies have filed liens against the local seniors complex for Liens filed Shore a total of $683,028.85. The documents say the claims are for work done between August 1997 and Oct. 22, 1998. Stoneport Construction Ltd. reg- istered a lien last Wednesday (Oct. 28), just days after all of the compa- ny's employees were taken off the job site. The company alleges that West Shore owes it $623,585.75 for work 5 £3 done between August 1997 and Oct. 22,1998. The company looks after the drywalling and insulation as well as block and cement work at the Perry St. site. Andrea Habas, the lawyer repre- senting Stoneport Construction, said last week the lien was placed on the Port Perry site in an effort to claim money for the value of work, services Continued on page 12 MOTOMASTER TOURING LXR 36 Size 2nd Tire 1/2 price P185/75R14 P195/75R14 P205/75R14 P205/75R15 P215/75R15 P175/70R13 P185/70R14 * P195/70R14 P205/70R14 P205/70R15 P215/70R15 P205/65R15 P215/65R15 P215/65R16 P215/60R16 P225/60R16 33.99 35.99 37.99 39.49 41.99 Tax cap for businesses helps some, hurts others By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star The tax relief that was to come to some businesses | as a result of Current Value Assessment will be for- feited to pay for a 10 per cent cap on tax hikes being imposed by the province, says a report from the regional finance department. The report, reviewed by the finance committee last week, says $18 million in tax decreases will be lost to business and industry as the region and its municipalities scramble to stay within the confines to be imposed by upcoming provincial legislation. Taxes for some 7,400 businesses across the region must be recalculated as a result of the cap, announced by Finance Minister Ernie Eves after a wave of outrage caused by sky-high tax increases. The hikes were the result of a number of factors, but primary .among.them was the introduction of Current Value Assessment (CVA). The system is designed to correct inequities in the property taxation system which have existed for years. The lost tax breaks will mean the purpose of CVA is negated, as business owners who have paid more than their share in the past will continue to do so, the report concludes. Scugog Regional Councillor Ken Gadsden, who's also chair of the township finance committee, concurs. "Really what it comes down to is fairness, and Continued on page 10 'More treats than ~ tricks this year Vandals gave residents and businesses in Scugog a real treat this Halloween -- no malicious mischief -- according to Durham Regional Police. Unlike past years, vandals stuck pretty much to collecting candy or staying home Saturday night, said Sgt. Ken Hudson. "With only a few minor exceptions, I'd say this Halloween was really pretty good," said Sgt. Hudson Monday. "I'd like to thank the citizens and businesses of Scugog Township for their co-operation in making this a safe and happy Halloween. Continued on page 14 JVIOTOMASTER od TTT Ral ae. wT