Readers‘ Comer Article on uniform tax rate oneâ€"sided: RE: Rural residents united against uniform tax rate, Champion, January 28 issue Dear Editor, I would like to respond to the latest article on the council decision to move to a uniform tax rate for Milton. Unfortunately, the article only reported the rural side of the issue. First of all, this is not a tax grab by the town. The truth is this tax change is revenue neutral. As for rural taxpayers not paying for urban services, well let‘s look at some numbers. Over the past 10 years, the town has spent $5 | million on the redevelopment of two parks and the Community Centre/Tennis Club within the rural Ward 3. During that same period, we spent a little over $6 million in park redevelopâ€" ment in the other seven wards combined. In the 2016 budget there is $7 million earâ€" marked for capital projects in the rural area, compare that to the $1.4 million earmarked for Ward 4, a ward that has nearly twice as many residents and taxpayers as the comâ€" Fire sparks call for increased sa Re: Milton trainer left reeling after barn fire claims 44 horses, Champion, January 7 issue Dear Editor, I was sickened and sorry to read of the death ; of so many precious and dearly loved animals. _ What a tragedy for so many involved owners as well, who loved them like their own family. This also struck me at once with some anger | over the fact that these horses were housed | | dark here and feel like this should rot hapâ€" | in basically a fire pit without a ceiling: metal walls, kindling as in straw, sawdust, hay and Letters welcome: The Canadian mwnmwmmmwwmmwmmmmmm to editor@m welcomes letters to the editor. Letters binedâ€"rural areas of wards 1 and 3. So really who is subsidizing who ? The biggest complaint we hear surrounds transit, and that rural tax payers should not be obliged to help pay for it. Well, fewer that 5 per cent of Milton urban households have a member who uses Milton Transit, yet every urban homeowner pays to support public transit whether they want to or not We do not have a choice. Why? Because the upper levels of government have deemed that the increase use of public transit is a benefit to everyone. It reduces congestion, gets more cars off the road and reduces green house gas emissions, thereby helping the environment which benefits everyone. Ward 3 Councilior Cindy Lunau must agree with this because, during her 18 years on council, she has voted in favour of many recâ€" ommendations to increase service levels for Milton Transit. On one hand, it appears she supports increased use of public transit but on the other hand it looks as though she wooden structures to surround their pens. Light a match or have a spark go off and you have an inferno killing horses. Will someone explain why these ‘seloved multiâ€"million dollar horses/investments, did not have any type of fire protection, such as | an alarm or sprinkler system, instead of relyâ€" ing on a possible sighting of the fire by someâ€" one passing by? I‘m not blaming the owners. ‘I‘m jus in the pen in an age when fire safety precautons are councilior doesn‘t believe she or the people she repreâ€" sents should help pay for it. As for those who have suggested that maybe the people of Ward 3 should consider secedâ€" ing from Milton and joining Wellington Counâ€" ty, consider the following. Using the higher single tax rate a rural property in Milton asâ€" sessed at $800,000 would pay $ 6,025 in total taxes â€" municipal, regional and education. A similar property in Erin would pay $9,048, while in Puslinch, the rate would be $8,110, and $8,910 in Guelph Eramosa. In Halton Hills, where there is a single uniform rate, taxes would be over $7,000. By comparison, Milton rural taxpayers aren‘t doing so badly. This tax change is not about having rural taxâ€" payers pay for urban services. It is about rural taxpayers contributing more towards the costs of providing the services they are receiving. Rick Malboeut, Ward 4 Councillor fety precautions in bams available. Perhaps instead of housing so many together, | a smaller stable could work with a sprinkler system and smoke detector linked to a secuâ€" rity company. Perhaps, instead of putting 40 horses together, the facility could house 20. There is never a reason to blame in a tragedy; but we can use it to analyze for ways to preâ€" vent another. It would be unbearable to hear of another such devastating fire. Marilyn Brown, Waterdown should be no more tian 300 words. We reserve the right to edit, revise and reject letters. Lettes must be signed with first an flroncanadbndvdmplon.comormbymdmsssmor. Milton; Ont, L9T 5E1. uJSS LU 2 S HEEn ONLY AT FORp. Insidehaliton.com Motion should be shelved Dear Editor, Lam writing this letter in support of Peâ€" ter Lambrick‘s letter, published in the January 7 issue of the Champion. The process for changing the tax strucâ€" ture in Milton presently under way is comâ€" pletely undemocratic. To contemplate such a change in the middle of budget deliberations, with no warning to those affected, is unacceptable. There is no tax crisis in Milton to warrant the motion to suspend rules and procedures, which prevented any discussion at council. Surrounding municipalities have sepaâ€" _ rate tax arrangements for urban and ruâ€" ral residents. They recognize this to be as fair to all taxpayers as is possible. I do not believe the urban counciliors took any time to consult with rural resiâ€" dents nor explore the costs we incur. How many of them understand the costs involved in installing and mainâ€" taining wells, for example? * The motion that was passed at council should be shelved and well informed MWMMat Walt Elliot, Milton Gballingere» MILTON esf. 1967 www.galli â€"com 655 MAIN STREET EAST, MILTON ngerford ‘ 905â€"875â€"FORD(3673) and last name for pubâ€" ‘p Aepsuny1 | 4 woaâ€"uoyeyapisul‘mmm | NYVIGVNYI NoL1IW | gTOZ