by Heather Brooks-Hill

North Kawartha Treasurer Judy Everett presented the final draft of the 2006 budget to Council at Council’s regular meeting March 14th held at Wilson Park Community Centre, one of Council’s two temporary homes. All changes had been incorporated from the two previous special budget meetings. Kudos were extended to staff from Deputy Reeve Warren Smith and Council passed the enabling By-Law unanimously. The 2006 budget adopted constitutes a 4.8% increase over last year. End of story? Not really. Read on.

Market Value Assessments (MVA) are a hot topic in North Kawartha and elsewhere across the province. The average North Kawartha assessment increased by 34%. The average MVA increase across the County was 23% and across the province was 11-12%.

The good news is that any citizen has the right to visit the Township office and look at the Township MVAs but individual appeals can only be made through the MPAC office in Peterborough. 

The MPAC appeal process is often lengthy and convoluted and so the news of a private members bill tabled by Conservative MPP Tim Hudak at Queen’s Park earlier this month is welcome. Titled “The Homestead Act 2006”, the intent is to bring some sense and order to assessment increases. To some extent this is an effort to modify a previous bill introduced and passed during the Harris years at Queen’s Park. It will, however, need to pass second and third reading plus Royal Assent to reach a successful conclusion and become law.

Councillor Barry Rand tabled a notice of motion in support of the Homestead Act 2006 and, with Council’s unanimous endorsement, a letter will be sent to Premier McGuinty, Minister of Municipal Affairs John Gerretson, the County and all member municipalities of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).

How does a Township assessment base go up? Firstly, as the real estate market increases, the average assessed value of a property increases because of MVA;  and secondly, new development adds directly to the assessment base. This is why politicians like new development. If the budget stays the same, new development enables Council to lower taxes.  Another approach to control taxes is to control the budget. However, in Ontario, because of downloaded services, and because service costs are relatively constant, municipal councils cannot really hope to control the budget. 

So what links the budget, taxes and assessment? The mill rate is the key. The mill rate is the number used to convert the assessment into taxes (revenue).

Council can control whether taxes on average go up, down or stay the same according to the mill rate that they set. However, because assessments have gone up inequitably (much higher for waterfront properties), to ensure the same percentage increase in taxes for individual properties across the Township, would require a decision to set differential mill rates: ie, one for waterfront and one for non-waterfront.

Therefore, the only hope for a Council to appear to be in charge is to encourage development. This is a risky approach for many reasons. A more favourable solution would be differential mill rates that would address the inequities of the assessments as they are today. More fodder for election musings this fall.

Assessments have been mailed. Tax bills based on these new assessments will come later this year. Copies of the 2006 budget are available. Call the township office at 656-4445 or e-mail: info@northkawartha.ca.

by Pastor John Trotter, Apsley Community Chapel

Had my parents pushed me aside when I was young and unlovable, and had told me to get out I would not be where I am today. When I was about ten years old, I used to cut our neighbours grass, and in the process we became great friends.  He made wine in his basement (intended for tonic).  After watching him for a while I began to make my own "tonic".  All you needed was water, sugar, dandy lions, yeast and a couple of other ingredients.   Then you would just let it sit and the longer it sat the stronger it got. 

We had our own brewery in my dad's basement without my parents knowing.  It was the worst tasting stuff I ever tasted, but it worked.   From that time on I started doing everything that went against what my parents stood for.  They did not know what to do with me.  The belt became my most personal friend.  Regardless of punishment, I was looking for the good life, smoking leaves, drinking wine and the more girls the better.  Overall I felt as though I was in control of my life.  But after a while it did not matter how much I partied or lived on the edge, happiness was still just out of reach.  But I kept on going from party to party, living the lie that there is something in it, when there is absolutely nothing, other than the moment.  The rest of my teen-age life I spent trying to find that one 'thing' that would fulfill.  When my brother and best friend were killed, I grew very bitter at God and all people that served Him. I began to try to drink my hurt away but every morning reality hit.  I was just as empty as ever. 

Shortly after this, my father asked me to go to a ministers meeting in the U.S. I agreed to go but made it very clear that I would not go to any meeting, he told me that was fine; he just wanted me to drive and be with him.  My dad and I never got along well so I thought I would try to make things work.  I went to the strippers and he went to church.  One night my father was with all these other preachers and asked me where I had been, so I told them to make them mad, it worked!  But before anyone could talk, my father in front of all his friends came over to me and said, "Boy, I don't care where you have been or what you have done you're my boy and I love you and I am glad you are here with me."  Well, I didn't know what to say.  My dad loved me when I was trying to make him mad.  How can you fight that? 

One year later I was drunk, got my gun out and was going to kill myself.  I could not find happiness in life and I knew the way I lived God would not want me but then the thought of my dad loving me when I was unlovable came back to me.  I said to God, "If you are real, take the pain away inside.  If you do I will live for you the rest of my life!"  He did and I did, and I meant it.  It does not matter where you are or what you have done only God can fill the void in your life.  God doesn't give up on people, so don't you! 

Call on Him and He will help you too. 

Skiing is My Thing...

by Bill Johnston

I’m up at 6:30 and have a big slice of homemade Christmas pudding, grab my skis and head for the Kawartha Nordic Ski Club ski trails.  It is –14C, my kind of day. I put two coats of special green wax on my skis and sign in. Then I walk to the top of the hill, put on my skis and off I go. It is a good start. Skis are holding and gliding perfectly. Trails are tracked and fast running. The trees are still covered with snow. They arch over the trails like an Emily Carr painting with a bonus of deer tracks crossing the trail. It is silent, only the sound of the skis to be heard. With a fast run down a hill, my momentum and a couple of kicks shoot me to the top of the next hill. A perfect day for skiing.

I am in my 80’s and this thought goes through my head. This is what heaven should be like; one good companion and a trail that goes on forever. What else could one desire?  I sit for a while in the parking lot savouring the day.