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City to pocket the GST cut....
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| Fir3start3r |
O M F G.
W T F.
I really hope this isn't serious because I'll be extremely pissed. :whip: :mad: :whip:
| quote: |
City to keep GST cut
Looking to save that 1% on golf, parking or cab ride after July 1? You better look again
By ROB GRANATSTEIN, CITY HALL BUREAU
The GST cut is not coming to City of Toronto facilities, programs, parking lots or cabs.
Everything from golf courses to dance classes, recycling boxes to museum admissions will not be cheaper when the GST falls to 6% from 7% on July 1.
Instead, the city will pocket the extra cash.
That's because city staffers are recommending that reducing the GST isn't worth the change.
"Unbelievable," John Williamson of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation said yesterday. "This is meant to be a tax cut that benefits all taxpayers across the country, not go into the pockets of governments."
To reduce the GST, the city would have to change billing systems, websites and printed publications to reflect the new, slightly lower fees, staff reported.
It might also force an amendment to the municipal code or other bylaws.
"Boo-hoo," Williamson said. "Governments never seem to complain when there is a cost to business or individuals when they hike their taxes. It's funny how they sing this song when it's going to benefit taxpayers at large. It's a bad excuse."
But councillor and city budget chief David Soknacki said he agrees with staff that the administrative costs will catch up with any small savings taxpayers might get, wiping out the benefit.
"With any luck we won't have to raise fees as much next year," Soknacki said.
The savings on a round of golf at Don Valley Golf Course would be 52 cents for an adult. The discount for an hour of prime time ice at a rink would be $1.74, and you would save a nickel on the purchase of a recycling box.
The city will reap an extra $148,000 over the six months this year, and an estimated $296,000 in 2007.
The decision has to be approved by council at the end of the month.
By not reducing the GST the Toronto Parking Authority, which operates at arm's length from the city, will be taking in an extra $816,000.
Taxis are not switching because each cabbie would lose a half-day's work getting the meter changed. TTC fares are not subject to GST.
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>>I can't believe I'm quoting the Toronto Sun<<
And when did WE get asked if they could do such a thing???
This is FEDERAL money, not MUNICIPAL money they're playing with!!!!
These lazy bastards at city hall are thinking of nothing but themselves.
Boo hoo indeed! :whip: |
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| Jem_hadar |
| HOLY ! :whip: :whip: |
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| Fir3start3r |
I'm reading some more on it now and according to Miller this is only supposed to go on until the end of the city's fiscal year.
Other cities are doing the same, although their GST cut won't be as gracious as Toronto's of course.
Here's another article reflecting Miller's decision:
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City won't be passing GST cut along to residents
Officials cite administrative costs as reason for recommendation
SUSAN O'NEILL
Jun. 16, 2006
The City of Toronto won't be passing along the federal goods and services tax (GST) cut to residents who use recreation programs, visit museums or play golf on city-owned courses.
That's because city staff say it isn't worth the headache or the administrative costs associated with adjusting the fees when the GST falls from seven per cent to six per cent July 1.
The city would have to change billing systems, websites and printed publications to reflect the slightly lower fees.
So the city will continue to pocket the extra cash, which will equal about $150,000 this year.
Budget chief and Ward 43 Councillor David Soknacki (Scarborough East) supports the recommendation.
"In looking at the administrative costs and in looking at this as a part-year decision, I have agreed with staff and will recommend to council that perhaps next year we ought not to need to increase the amounts by as much as we did," he said.
The net result means the city will pocket about $150,000 in additional revenues this year.
"The net result is $300,000 per year on a full-year basis of which about $200,000 is in recreation and parks funding," Soknacki said.
Soknacki told reporters Friday the adjustment would be made without question if the city were dealing with large sums of money.
"The devil is in the details. If you take a look at the details of the report, then what will happen is that the costs of a program will move perhaps a nickel, in some cases a penny," he said. "The largest amounts were typically in golf fees."
Soknacki said the staff recommendation is "not meant to harm as much as it is meant to avoid the administrative headache."
He continued saying that residents can apply under the Welcome program for fees to be waived or reduced.
"We sincerely invite people to take advantage of this program," he said.
Mayor David Miller also told reporters Friday that it would be "impossible" to provide the one per cent tax cut on all programs.
"You can't send out cheques to refund people for 40 cents, it costs more than that to send the cheque. You're asking the city to spend more money than the refunds are worth," he said.
Miller added the refund is only a problem this year because the cut in the GST comes halfway through the fiscal year.
Next year, he said, city fees will be recalculated to reflect the new rate.
The staff report will go to the city's policy and finance committee Tuesday and to council later this month.
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>>Source<<
Now I can understand that there's going to "administrative headaches" but that's going to come whether it's July 1st or January 1st; big deal.
I can guarantee you if this was a GST hike of 1%, it would probably be close to ready at the flick of a switch though.
So my question now becomes, what exactly are they going to do with my money?? There better be some damn good fireworks on Canada Day!!! |
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| Jayx1 |
if the GST went up 1% im sure theyd have no trouble changing things.
What bastards.. And now they have broad new powers as of last week with this new toronto act |
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