Town to ask province for money

Every time Fort Frances council makes a decision to spend money, Bill 140 lurks ominously in the background.
“The frustrating part is that council, as a whole, agrees with the principle of the legislation,” noted CAO Bill Naturkach. “Unfortunately, Ontario is looking for a solution right now.”
According to the average provincial tax ratio NDP leader and local MPP Howard Hampton got from the ministry and the town’s current ratio, the new bill–to be passed in April–will force the town to absorb $60,000 in the municipal budget or hike taxes for residential property owners.
The bill would restrict the town from raising taxes on industrial, commercial, or multi-residential properties above the provincial ratio, forcing any increase onto the residential class.
During a special committee of the whole meeting last Thursday, councillors crunched numbers to look at how to alleviate the potential impact of Bill 140 and resolved to ask the province for a break.
“We have decided to write a letter seeking some interim financing to get through the Bill 140 shortage this year and get some financial assistance,” noted Mayor Glenn Witherspoon.
The mayor also said he’s met with ministry reps in person to push for assistance in dealing with the bill.
Besides sending the request, it will be business as usual. Any other decisions dealing with Bill 140, including how to accommodate a $60,000 shortfall, have been tabled pending an answer from the ministry.
In related news, the committee of the whole also passed a resolution at Thursday’s meeting to proceed with a request for proposal to upgrade the town’s computer system.
The upgrade, priced at $300,000 by the town treasurer, previously had been put on hold pending a decision on what to do about Bill 140’s impact.
Now the town will look for the lowest price for the software upgrade before considering whether or not to go ahead with the purchase.
“It’s like going to the shopping mall and leaving your credit card at home,” said Naturkach.
Fort Frances also has had to accommodate a $295,800 loss in industrial tax revenue due to the property reassessments last year–a shortfall most of the one-industry towns in Northwestern Ontario are struggling to deal with.