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Warns of tax hikes from NEC expansion

October 19, 2016   ·   0 Comments

A tax increase is pending for all Dufferin, Grey, Bruce, Mono, and Caledon residences!

Let me give you a little background on why your property taxes are going to increase. The Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) is increasing the protected areas surrounding the escarpment in the counties of Dufferin,  Grey, and Bruce and the towns of Mono and  Caledon.

The changes will affect how property taxes are calculated for those considered to be in the new protected areas. In Mulmur township, part of Dufferin county, the total changes are expected to short the township’s budget by $1.2 million. (This is only the Mulmur portion and doesn’t include other townships so it will be more.)

Why is this important to you? The shorted tax revenues will be distributed to those in the affected counties, meaning you, me, everyone.

You may feel the protection is great and that you will have new places to go hiking, NO! This is private property.

To those of us who will be in the affected areas, it means we won’t be able to change anything on our property without NEC and Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) approval. So, how many levels of red tape did you want to go through? You may also believe that if your property is in one of these areas that it will be excluded from any taxes. Wrong. If there is a residence on the property you are subject to taxes.

In Dufferin county, the NEC’s increased protected area includes Mansfield, Terra Nova and Honeywood. Really? Have these people looked at more than a map? There are commercial properties including a gas station here.

What can you do? You can write an email or send a letter to the NEC to address our concerns. I also would like them to answer the question as to where were they when we were fighting the Melancthon mega quarry?

Deadline for comments is OCTOBER 31, 2016!

Your letter/email should be addressed to planreview@escarpment.org, with copies to our MPP,  sylvia.jonesqp@pc.ola.org, and to info@mulmur.ca (or your own township), as well as to Cindy Tan, Manager, Land Use Planning Review, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ontario Growth Secretariat, Suite 425, 4th Floor, 777 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2E5. and/or the Niagara Escarpment Commission 232 Guelph St. (3rd floor), Georgetown, Ontario L7G 4B1

For more More information visit www.escarpment.org/planreview/index.php

Karen Scully

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