Changes To Local Political Landscape

Local politics in the news lately has been about the election of the Regional Chair by the electorate rather than by Regional Council.  With all the talk about who best represents the electorate taking place there are other areas who are also making changes in their political landscape.

Should The Ward System In Uxbridge Change To An At Large System?

One Council here in Ontario says Yes! An article in the Owen Sound Sun Times, where council has just voted to make this change, will see voters in Chatsworth, Ontario voting for councillors at large rather than by ward as we have here in Uxbridge.

The Article tells us that since amalgamation took place in 2000 Mayor Bob Pringle of Chatsworth has been in favour of an at large system where all five council candidates are voted for by all voters in Chatsworth. He feels this way people have more say in who they vote for.

What the story does not tell us is will voters be able to vote for five potential candidates or just one with the top five becoming the new councilors.The only dissenting vote came from a councilor who indicated that a continuation of the ward system is what the voters in his ward wanted.

Which one is the right one?

When it comes to local politics which system better represents the voters and their concerns The ward system where one councilor can be held accountable to the voters in their ward or one where all the councilors have to listen to the voters at large and the concerns of a particular area may be ignored because the rest of the municipality voters do not share their concerns.

What is Your Opinion?

• Will it be harder or easier to have your concerns addressed if Uxbridge Council decided to follow Chatsworth down the road to getting rid of the ward system?
• Will the added cost of running a municipal wide campaign exclude some from running?
• Is this a possibility Uxbridge should explore?

Changes To Local Political Landscape - Should The Ward System Change To An At Large System?

You and "YOUR" Property Tax Bill - 2012 Interim Tax payments Are Due

April is not my favourite month of the year as I am reminded that three levels of government are constantly dipping deeper into our wallets. Their demands on our resources are increasing constantly despite all they say they are doing to hold the line or reduce our taxes. With interest rates at the low levels they are today the exorbitant rates charged on overdue property taxes is almost usury.

You May Not Get A Personal Reminder From The Tax Office That Your 2012 Property Taxes Are Due

But Failure to pay them on time will result in an immediate penalty of 1.25%.

The second installment of your Interim Uxbridge Property Taxes are due by Friday April 30th, 2012.

Don't forget to save your receipted tax bill for income tax purposes
it will cost you $10.00 to get a reprinted one.

Modern Day Taxation

Taxes in one form or another have been with us throughout recorded history from the taxes collected by the Scribes of the Egyptian Pharaohs to the war time tax of the Athenians to the taxes imposed by the Roman Empire to today's multi level taxation by three levels of government.

On the surface taxes today are collected in a manner deemed to be fair and equitable, unfortunately if one looks at the various means that some are able to employ to avoid taxes you begin to realize that the average person is likely paying more than his or her fair share.

There are few taxes that we can avoid but we can ensure we pay only our fair share by understanding how your property is assessed and what tax avoidance incentives there are for you to employ.

Some of my earlier posts may be of help to those wishing to ensure they pay only their fair share.

You and "YOUR" Property Tax Bill - How Much Reserves/Surplus Is Enough

You And Your Property Tax Bill - The Illusion and The Reality

The Ultimate Slap In The Face

After a closed door meeting council voted to stick Georgina Taxpayers with the bill for a defamation lawsuit by Mayor Grossi against the former Georgina Leisure services Director John McLean. You can read more about this decision and  Help stop your tax dollars from paying for the lawsuit. There is also an online petition to stop the funding for Mayor Grossi's lawsuit.

An article in the Georgina Advocate indicated Mayor Grossi would donate any funds he receives as a result of his lawsuit to a charity yet to be named.

The irony is he will likely get a charitable tax receipt that he can then use to reduce his personal taxable income.

The Ultimate Slap In The Face

Should this happen it would be the ultimate slap in the face to taxpayers who would have footed the bill for the resources used to obtain the funds used to fund his tax deductions.

Halloween saftey is an importnat subject to discuss with your children. Help avoid tragedy on Halloween by being extra careful if you are out driving as children are so excited  they tend to dart out and across the street with out looking.

You May Not Get A Personal Reminder From The Tax Office That Your 2011 Property Taxes Are Due

But Failure to pay them on time will result in an immediate penalty of 1.25%.

The last installment of your Uxbridge property taxes are due by Friday September 30th, 2011.

Monthly Payment/Pre-Authorized Payments

Uxbridge offers two different methods or plans for pre-authorized payments. The first is a monthly plan that authorizes the town to take your tax payments in 11 monthly installments directly from your bank account with the first payment being January the 1st and on the 1st of each month thereafter until the last payment on November the 1st . The second authorizes them to take four installment payments on the due dates usually the end of February, April, June and September. For more information  visit The Treasury Department (tax office) or download the forms from the Town website.

Don't forget to save your recipted tax bill for income tax purposes
it will cost you $10.00 to get a reprinted one.

Modern Day Taxation

Taxes in one form or another have been with us throughout recorded history from the taxes collected by the Scribes of the Egyptian Pharaohs to the war time tax of the Athenians to the taxes imposed by the Roman Empire.

On the surface taxes today are collected in a manner deemed to be fair and equitable, unfortunately if one looks at the various means that some are able to employ to avoid taxes you begin to realize that the average person is likely paying more than his or her fair share.

There are few taxes that we can avoid but we can ensure we pay only our fair share by understanding how your property is assessed and what tax avoidance incentives there are for you to employ.

Some of my earlier posts may be of help to those wishing to ensure they pay only their fair share.

You and "YOUR" Property Tax Bill - How Much Reserves/Surplus Is Enough

You And Your Property Tax Bill - The Illusion and The Reality