Untitled - Waterfront BIA

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TAX COMMITTEE The provincial budget brought down in March, with great fanfare as to how it was helping Toronto, changed nothing in principle. The business education tax (BET), which is highly discriminatory against Toronto, remains unaddressed. It appears to be on no one’s radar screen, and the Province is happy to keep it that way. We raised the issue in a press release on budget night but it attracted little attention. The full press release is posted on TABIA’S website. Toronto Liberal Caucus: Disturbed by the apparent lack of interest by Toronto’s MPPs in the property tax issue, we obtained permission to make a submission to the Toronto Liberal Caucus at Queen’s Park. This opportunity is a rare privilege, and was granted to us only because of the efforts of the Honourable Laurel Broten, Minster of the Environment, who clearly is very interested and concerned. We were somewhat disappointed to find that not many of her colleagues are as keen as Ms. Broten, when so few of them turned up to hear our presentation. Nevertheless, in the relatively short time allotted to us, in very strong terms we laid out, orally and with photographic evidence, the damage the BET was doing to the City. We explained to the Caucus that our membership felt Toronto MPPs had let them down on the tax issue. Some of the attendees became rather indignant that we were so critical (It felt like “shoot the messenger” time), but others did appreciate the fact that we were straightforward and blunt. New Radar: While both the Liberal party and the Conservatives (who imposed this mess upon us in the first place) seem content to sweep the tax issues under the rug. The NDP seems to be in the process of lifting the rug. An NDP Task Force has conducted a study of the property tax system, and has issued an excellent report. The report makes six recommendations for reforming the system and, if implemented, would solve many, if not all, of the hardships created by the present system. Newly elected MPP Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale – High Park) is the Small Business Critic for the NDP in the Legislature. She has taken up the tax issues with fervor, and appears to have the support of her party to bring it to the forefront of the political agenda. Ms. DiNovo has tabled a resolution in the Legislature calling for two things: an equalization of the BET across the entire GTA for small business; and uploading back to the Province the cost of provincially mandated social programs, which now have to be paid for by municipalities. While a resolution does not change the law in any way, and in any event might be squelched by the larger parties, it would serve to highlight the hardship that the CVA has wrought, and might force the government to give some serious thought to reforming the present system. In addition, at the instance of MPP Michael Prue (Beaches – East York), the NDP convention in January will discuss, and hopefully adopt as policy, the disconnecting of the assessment process from the real estate market i.e. ending CVA. 9
TAX COMMITTEE What Else Can Be Done TABIA is constantly pressing both the provincial and municipal governments to provide relief to our membership. But the efforts of individual BIA’s and BIA members are also vital. Contact your local Councillor. Insist that he or she come to Board meetings and to your AGM. Insist that he or she lay out their position on the tax issue. Repeat the process with your local MPP. Write Mayor Miller and outline the problems you are having with CVA. Explain what it will mean to your business if full CVA tax level is accelerated. Repeat the process with the Minister of Finance, The Honourable Greg Sorbara, and with the Minister of Municipal Affairs, The Honourable John Gerretsen. Send copies of your letters to your local MPP and to your local Councillor. Follow up each communication on a monthly basis, by telephone and by letter, asking the addressee what progress has been made, and what steps are being taken. Cooperate with TABIA in any campaign for which TABIA might enlist the support of BIA’s and BIA members. We have a membership of over 25,000. Together we can make a difference! And if you need help, we are available. Call John Kiru at (416) 889-4111 or Lionel Miskin at (416) 222-4582. MPAC – Ombudsman: Those of you who are appealing your current assessments, or have requested a re-consideration, should review the Ombudsman’s report on the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). The report can be found on the Ombudsman’s website at www.ombudsman.on.ca. It outlines a number of changes which MPAC has apparently already instituted in its practices, and will give you a better understanding of how MPAC might conduct itself, and what advantages you might gain in the course of your appeal. TAX COMMITTEE - YOUR TAX BILL EXPLAINED Tax Levy Sub-total (Municipal and Education) What you would pay for the year for municipal and ed. Levies if no capping or claw backs Special Charges Usually your BIA levy 2006 Tax Cap Adjustment The amount which you are gaining or losing because of the caps and claw backs Final 2006 Taxes The total of everything you have to pay 2006 CVA Taxes Amount you would pay if no capping or claw backs 2005 Annualized Taxes That’s the amount you paid last year - if you had mid-year adjustments, the amount was annualized so you can compare the two years 2006 Tax Cap Amount That’s the amount by which capping has changed your bill 2006 Provincial Education Levy Change The amount of change in your bill because of changes in the education rate 2006 Local Municipal Levy Change The amount of change in your bill because of changes in the municipal rate 2006 Adjusted Taxes The amount you are actually paying in 2004 for education and municipal taxes 10
Page 2 and 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS THE BIA STORY ___
Page 4 and 5: TORONTO FACT SHEET • Set on the n
Page 6 and 7: TABIA WEBSITE Visit www.toronto-bia
Page 8 and 9: TABIA ORGANIZATIONAL CHART Mr. LION
Page 12 and 13: TAX COMMITTEE - YOUR TAX BILL EXPLA
Page 14 and 15: TABIA TASK FORCE ON CRIME: PREVENTI
Page 16 and 17: TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE The Transp
Page 18 and 19: GEOGRAPHIC BASED BIA SUPPORT SYSTEM
Page 20 and 21: TABIA MILESTONES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Page 22 and 23: TABIA DISCOUNTS & SAVINGS PROGRAMS
Page 24 and 25: TABIA DISCOUNTS & SAVINGS PROGRAMS
Page 26 and 27: GREENTBIZ SAVE MONEY WHILE GREENING
Page 28 and 29: CITY OF TORONTO BIA OFFICE - CONTAC
Page 30 and 31: BIA DESCRIPTIONS AND CONTACTS Bloor
Page 32 and 33: BIA DESCRIPTIONS AND CONTACTS Danfo
Page 34 and 35: BIA DESCRIPTIONS AND CONTACTS Greek
Page 36 and 37: Survey and Mapping Services 31 Litt
Page 38 and 39: BIA DESCRIPTIONS AND CONTACTS Liber
Page 40 and 41: BIA DESCRIPTIONS AND CONTACTS Old Q
Page 42 and 43: BIA DESCRIPTIONS AND CONTACTS St. C
Page 44 and 45: BIA DESCRIPTIONS AND CONTACTS Wexfo
Page 46 and 47: GRAFFITI ABATEMENT PROGRAM The Prog
Page 48 and 49: MAKING A DEPUTATION TO A COMMITTEE
Page 50 and 51: WHO DOES WHAT AT THE CITY BIA TAX R
Page 52 and 53: CITY COUNCILLORS Peter Milczyn (War
Page 54 and 55: MEMBERS OF PROVINCIAL PARLIAMENT Ho
Page 56 and 57: MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT Tom Wappel Sc
Page 58 and 59: CITY OF TORONTO COMMUNITY PARTNERSH
Page 60 and 61:
CITY OF TORONTO COMMUNITY PARTNERSH
Page 62 and 63:
COMMERCIAL FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT PROG
Page 64 and 65:
MEDIA CONTACTS Be sure to check eac
Page 66 and 67:
MEDIA CONTACTS TELEVISION Bravo!New
Page 68 and 69:
General Enquiries /Mailing Address
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Untitled - Waterfront BIA

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