Town to study effect of market value assessment By Mike Johnston Whitby ratepayers may know the • impact of market value assessment on their taxes by March. On Monday night council approved asking the Iministry of Revenue to study the effect the revised tax format would have if introduced in Whitby. The motion was introduced by west ward councillor Joe Bugeli who had called for market value assessment during the election campaign. Council approved the request by a vote of 7-1 Monday night with only centre ward councillor Lynda Buffett opposing the. move. 'Lcan't support this because I know the study will tell me what I already know," said Buffett. She told council many seniors livin in the centre ward will be faced with a tax increase of between a 50 and 100 per cent if market value assessment is in- troduced. Her concern was shared by regional councillor Marcel Brunelle, former centre ward representative. He.gave approval to the request because he wanted to find out the effects of market value assessment. However, he told council it would have an impact on many seniors and families living in the downtown. "This may force them out of their homes because of higher, taxes. But then maybe we can do something to offset that," said Brunelle. He also noted that market value assessment may mean homeowners will not have their homes designated under the Heritage Protection Act because it would lead to higher taxes., "If peo le can't carry the taxes on their -homes they may divide them into smaller units. Indivi- dual ownership will become tougher and tougher so only the rich could afford older homes," said Brunelle. Councillor Ross Batten said centre ward and north ward resi- dents would be affected more severely. But he added it is time for Whitby to introduce market value assessment. "The tax assessment we have now is not fair and equal. And, very frankly, there are new fam- ilies not paying their share of the taxes in this municipality," said Batten, north ward representa- tive. "I have to support this even if Brocklin residents get a tax in- crease. I have to be fair to all residents of Whitby," he added. For his part, Bugelli noted that some areas of town will be faced with a "tremendous impact" in taxes if market value assessment is introduced. "There will be impacts. But my first thought is thank God for the free ride you (affected residents) have had al along," said Bugelli. "Let everybody pay their fair share." Bugelli explained that pro- perty taxes in different areas of Whitby are now based on assess- ment taken between the 1940s and 1960s-. He said market value assess- ment would be based on 1984 pr t values and would be up ate continually. He added the new method would not provide more tax dol- lars for the municipality but would make assessment fairer throughout the Town. He noted that Whitby and Oshawa are the only two munici- palities in Durham Region not to ave gone through the process. The cost of the review will be paid for by the assessment department of the Ministry of Revenue. The department will also be responsib e for holding public meetings on the review. Once council knows the impact of market value assessment, it will then have to decide whether to implement it in Whitby. Second floor at seniors' activity centre investigated DAMAGE was $10,000 to the 1979 Shepley, 17, of Whitby was driving Thunderbird (above) and $8,000 to a the Oldsmobile and Gavin Speir, 19, 1981 Oldsmobile, and there were of Oshawa, the Thunderbird. A third minor injuries to the drivers of both car involved but undamaged was a cars from an accident at Dundas St. 1977 Pontiac driven by Kelly Smith, W. and Jeffery St. in west Whitby at 35, of Whitby. No charges have been 6:30 p.m. on Monday during wet laid by Durham Regional Police. esnow and rainy conditions. Karen FrhciPresesphoto Officiai plan review is wanted Whitby's planning and deve- lopment committee has asked for $150,000 to implement a two- year study of the Town's official plan. "It is absolutely needed. The last plan was done in 1973 and it is out of date," said regional councillor and planning commit- tee chairman Joe Drumm. Drumm noted Whitby will have to hire outside consultants to handle parts of the review because of a shortage of person- nel in the planning department and the department's busy sche- dule. Council is to go over the 1989 budget in March. The review was first suggested by councillor Ross Batten at the end of last week's planning com- mittee meeting. Planning director Bob Short said then that his department budget would incorporate $150,000 for consultant work to be undertaken. Short estimated the cost of the- review at $350,000 to $400,000 for the next two years. Pat Dooley, of the Corridor Area Ratepayers' Association, commented at last week's meet- ing that a review "is not what I asked for at all." Dooley has previously criticized council for "spot zoning." 'We don't need a new official p lan'or a review," Dooley said ater. "We just need the official plan implemented." Whitby council will hire an architect to investigate the addi- tion of a second floor to the senior's centre on Brock St. S. The addition is needed to handle the increased use at the centre. But council heard dif- ferent opinions Monday night on the best way to handle the need for more space. "My opinion is the decision does not meet the need," said Roy Nethercott, a senior. He said use at the centre is growing so fast, the additional floor would be inadequate before it was completed. The centre was built 15 years ago to accommodate 250 seniors. A total of 1,200 seniors now use the centre. "Give us a centre that will satisfy us today, tommorow and for the next 25 years. Don't put old people into a renovated build- ing, said Nethercott. A report from the parks and recreation department noted that staff looked at other alternatives but found them unacceptable. Some of those alternatives inclu- ded locating in the Centennial Building and the Whitby Public Library. Expanding the Brock St. S. location was the best alternative because it maintains the current location and is accessible for seniors. It is also capable of expansion, noted the depart- ment Alex Hamill, of the seniors centre board of directors, told council he would also like the architect to look at exp anding the facility without adding a second floor. "Space is our problem and it is an urgent one. im confused that the scope of the survey is only looking at one story (for expan- sion). That doesn't begin to scratch the problem. It is only 2,000 sq. ft. "I would like the architect to look at the whole site," said Hamill. "If we are to attack this pro- blem we should do it one step at a time and look at a second floor before looking elsewhere," said regional councillor Tom Edwards. "There is nothing more posit- ive than seniors needing more space but I don't think one floor will solve their problems," said regional councillor Joe Drumm. I see nothing wrong with bringing the building down to the lot une (on Pitt St. E.). There is room for parking there now," said Drumm. "As long as we keep emotions from this and let a professional look at this...everyone will be better served," said councillor Joe Bugelli. INTERIORS e<5' See Centre Section g*