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Downer battles ‘inaccuracies’

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In Midland
Oct 14th, 2010
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Incumbent mayor, colleagues upset by ‘spin’ during campaign
By Nicole Million Midland Mirror Oct 14, 2010
MIDLAND – There are two sides to every story, and a couple of Midland council candidates want to ensure both sides are being made known.
During last week’s all-candidates meeting, incumbent mayor Jim Downer called out his opponents and urged voters to investigate what he described as “inaccuracies” that have been raised during the campaign leading up to the Oct. 25 municipal election.
“Take the time to check out these issues, get the true facts before you make any decisions in the vote. Find out the costs of some of the promises being made,” he said during the meeting.
In an interview with The Mirror, Downer pointed to the power-of-entry bylaw, taxi meters and heavy-item pickup as just a few of the issues that have been brought up that he feels have not included the entire truth.
“People put a negative spin on our town and what’s going on, and I find it very disturbing. Every time you pick up a paper, there’s negativity. We should concentrate on the positive,” he said, noting he believes misinformation was given to the public regarding those issues.
“There was a myth put out there with this power-of-entry bylaw,” he said. “I got calls from people thinking police could Taser them on their doorsteps and kick their doors in.
“In terms of the taxi meter bylaw, people are going out there spinning this thing saying it’s going to be more expensive, but 70 per cent of the rides are going to be cheaper.”
Downer said despite the recent outcry against the change, the town held a public consultation that included four local taxi companies: “Three out of the four wanted meters. There was nobody there crying out not to have meters.”
Judy Contin, the incumbent councillor for Ward 3, stated in a news release that the change will actually be better in the long run for the consumer.
“It’s total transparency and accountability for cab companies and their drivers,” she said. “Nearly all towns in Ontario require cabs to have meters to protect riders.”
Heavy-item pickup, meanwhile, was not eliminated by the town, insisted Downer.
“It is now on the master plan for the County of Simcoe that all municipalities will be entertaining the voucher system. It was presented to council, and they have adopted it. In 2011, more than likely, there won’t be any heavy-item pickup in any municipality in the county,” he said. “We didn’t cancel heavy pickup; we went to a voucher system with two treasure days.”
Contin said although the decision to go to vouchers in 2009 was not solely financial, the cost for picking up heavy waste was about $68,000 for collection, tipping fees and haulage – not including the enforcement costs of trying to get residents to comply with pickup dates, item numbers or materials.
“The voucher system for heavy garbage has been in place for nearly two years, and people comment that the town looks much better and that it is more convenient to be able to use their two vouchers whenever desired,” she said. “We know that it’s difficult for some people to get waste to the transfer station, but we know, too, that neighbours, friends and family are helping.”
Economic development – or the perceived lack of it in the municipality – is another of the “inaccuracies” Downer and his counterparts feel needs to be addressed.
He said the economy is in such poor shape at the moment that no municipality is attracting jobs – and having an economic development officer on staff won’t change that.
“I have full confidence in our planning staff. The county is going to be doing massive economic development for the whole county. I stand by my guns. We’re not the only ones not attracting jobs. It’s great to stand before a microphone and say, ‘I am going to do this and bring jobs….’ It’s not attainable at this time.”
Contin added the county is working on a five-year regional economic development and tourism strategy that will be available for public review in the spring of 2011.
“Our director of planning will participate fully, and it’s something we have known would be coming for nearly two years,” she said.
Like Downer, Ward 2 incumbent Bob Jeffery also questioned promises made by local candidates to bring jobs to the community.
“Here in Midland, the economic development is in the hands of the county and the province who can best address the problem, keeping our attributes in mind, along with all the other regions, counties and municipalities vying for assistance to secure jobs,” he said in an email. “Let the private sector … put their money where their mouths are by generating new and exciting companies, without dreaded government interference and meddling, so as to generate local opportunities.”
High taxes is another bogeyman that some candidates have been using to frighten voters, suggested Contin.
She pointed out Midland taxpayers have split a 2010 bill of a little more than $16 million to cover the town’s operational and capital needs.
“It is the home assessments … that determine what share of the total cost each household pays,” she said. “Although everyone receives the same services, the amount each household pays differs, as some houses are assessed well below Midland’s average assessment of $181,300, and some are assessed well above that amount.”
Contin said this would ideally reflect someone’s ability to pay for services, which is where the tax rate comes into play.
“The tax rate is the multiplier it takes to produce the $16 million to deliver services, when spread out over the total households. Everyone pays the same residential rate, but ends up paying different taxes based on the assessment of his or her property.”
She noted since the amount of tax a resident pays depends on the assessed value of his or her home, comparing tax rates from community to community is unfair.
“If one community has a higher total assessment due to geographic location or percentage of waterfront households than Midland, yet the cost of delivering municipal services is the same, the tax rate will be lower as the multiplier needed to achieve collecting the $16 million will be lower.”
The average Midland assessment for 2010 was $181,300, while the average home assessed in Penetanguishene was $193,608. In Collingwood, that number was $245,500, and for Barrie it was $250,000.
Ultimately, no matter which way the election goes, Downer said he is concerned “spin doctoring” on certain key issues is ultimately leaving people with inaccurate or incomplete information.
“We’re not stupid; we know what’s going on. It’s election time. Tell the truth,” he said. “We have a great community, and it doesn’t matter who is in power. If they’re doing the best job they can, you shouldn’t be talking negative about your community, especially if you’re on a council. You should be moving in the other direction.”

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