Higher taxes are forecast throughout the Province as a result of legislation, Bill 140, passed this session and Colborne will be affected.
Talking to the CAO of the_Municipality of Cramahe and Colborne, Mr. Gerry Morrison, the Chronicle discovered that little local knowledge of Bill 140 exists. “I don’t know if the Bill changes what we already have in place.” he said when informed that the major thrust of the Bill is to maintain the tax caps on business rates. He continued to say that most people do not understand just how much Industrial and Commercial assessment exists in the new municipality (approximately 22%). Speculating upon the results of passing any business taxes, above the 5% cap, onto residential taxpayers he stated, “That’s going to be a hardship on the  [residential] taxpayers. I would hope that’s not the case.”

 The County of Northumberland, and its seven municipalities received advance warning of the possibility of higher taxes in documents filed as background papers for Bill 140, the seventh tax bill in six years to be presented by Mr. Eves, the Finance Minister.
 This new bill passed in the Provincial Legislature has ensured that any future tax increases in any municipality will be mainly paid for by homeowners. Business and commercial taxpayers will be entitled to a 5% freeze but anything over that amount will be transferred to the homeowner. “There is no quetion that the burden will be borne by the residential taxpayer ", said Mr. Steve Robinson, the President of the Ontario Clerks and Treasurers and the Director of Finance of the Town of Cobourg.

 When Mr Morrison was asked  when the problem will be studied he told us that as a result of increased workloads and priorities it will be in the new year.

 However in an unrelated story Mr. Morrison did tell the Chronicle that as a result of redistribution and  amalgamation residents of the former village will see their taxes go down about 10% and while others can expect no increases at all.

Colborne Chronicle Dec 22 2000