Township mayoral candidate clarifies information in election flyer

To the Editor:
RE: “Huron-Kinloss deputy mayor objects to untruths about council's performance”

This is my response to the letter from Huron-Kinloss deputy mayor Wilfred Gamble who disagrees with the numbers I posted in my flyer.

The numbers I quoted are a total of the operating and capital expenditures from 2009 and 2018. I asked the township staff for the final budgets for all years from 2009 to 2018. These budgets were provided to me and I have used only the numbers that the staff gave me. If you disagree with the numbers, you will need to take that up with the township staff. 

The mill rates for Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh (ACW) and Huron-Kinloss were provided to me by a reputable real estate company. I was given the mill rate for ACW at .003831701 and for Huron-Kinloss at .00596979. I used these numbers to multiply by $100,000 - ACW taxes would be $383 and Huron-Kinloss taxes would be $597.

When you take $597-$383= $214. That works out to 56 per cent of ACW at $383 to get to Huron-Kinloss at $597. These taxes are for a house valued at $100,000. If your house is worth more, then it is simple to calculate your taxes, but the difference will still be 56 per cent more in Huron-Kinloss than a house of equal value in ACW.

You are correct when you stated that the municipal levy has doubled since 2009. However, there can never be a set tax increase of $147.64. This year, the tax increase is 1.9 per cent. If your taxes were $1,000 in 2017, then this year you are paying $1,019 (increase of $19). But if you paid $6,000 in 2017, then this year you are paying $6,114 (increase of $114) . Tax increases are never across the board the same for all.

Wilf, congratulations on your retirement. I wish you all the best in the years ahead.

Brian MacEachern
Huron-Kinloss