|
|
Meeting Minutes Minutes - September 18, 2012 Minutes - March 21, 2012 Minutes - February 28, 2012 2011 Minutes Minutes - November 23, 2011 Minutes - November 09, 2011 Minutes - October 28, 2011 Minutes - September 20, 2011 Minutes - September 14, 2011 Minutes - September 06, 2011 Minutes - August 30, 2011 Minutes - June 22, 2011 Minutes - May 25, 2011 Minutes - May 24, 2011 Minutes - May 09, 2011 Minutes - May 03, 2011 Minutes - May 01, 2011 Minutes - April 11, 2011 Minutes - February 22, 2011 Minutes - February 15, 2011 Minutes - February 03, 2011 Minutes - January 30, 2011 Minutes - January 17, 2011 History of Minutes |
A general meeting of the CBRM Property Taxpayers’ Association convened on Wednesday June 22, 2011 at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall in Florence. This meeting was requested by Mr. Ken Jardine on behalf of the interested constituents of this area. Mr. Jardine called the meeting to order at 705 P.M. and welcomed all attendees and presenters expressing gratitude on behalf of all. Our chairman, Mr. Francis Gillis welcomed all and proceeded to explain the purpose of our Association and provided some background to that affect. The objective of these town hall meetings is to educate all property taxpayer owners on the affects of removing the CAP immediately without fixing the problem that caused the CAP to be put in place. He noted our goals and objectives and provided some basic statistics fundamental to our presentation including an explanation of the PVSC Assessment Notice that each property taxpayer receives. Mr. Joe Gillis gave a briefing on the CAP Review 2010, Municipal Discussions Sessions Summary Report and the meeting of 3 March 2011 that the Association had with Services Nova Scotia Minister John MacDonell. In addition, he provided an overview of CBRM Council meeting of 5 Apr 2011 regarding presentation on the CAP by CBRM staff member John MacKinnon whom the Association believes skewed his presentation with incomplete and inaccurate data analysis. His concluding remarks reaffirmed the Association's position by reminding the attendees that the removal of the CAP will not address the issues that prompted its initiation. He suggested that property taxpayers need to be more involved and that we all need to continue to push for a fairer, more uniform and effective property tax structure, greater Government spending constraint and, greater involvement by our elected officials. Our next presenter, Mr. Dan Gillis provided a brief regarding our meeting with Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC) wherein we asked permission to utilize their data to conduct a longitudinal study and analysis of the affects of removing the CAP and the result it would make on the property taxpayers of CBRM. He also provided a thorough critique of CBRM staff presentation to council by Mr. John MacKinnon highlighting the inaccuracies and unfounded statements found in Mr. MacKinnon's report. Mr. Dan Gillis, showed the audience his charted results by comparison with Mr. MacKinnon's analysis in which some attendees were shocked by the noted differences, especially when comparing the results of the revenues to be gained by CBRM if the CAP was removed as the chart below shows.
Notwithstanding the chart above, Mr. Dan Gillis was able to show that the CBRM would also gain a win-fall if the CAP was removed and the tax rate was reduced by 15% as inferred by Mr. MacKinnon. It is suffice to say that CBRM council were not provided the data analysis they needed and deserved by Mr. MacKinnon's presentation which left a lot of questions unanswered for the property taxpayers association who sought and gained exact data from PVSC and made a most objective analysis resulting in a crystal clear picture of the revenues to be gained by CBRM if the CAP was removed, with or without a 15% reduction in the tax rate. Mr. Dan Gillis' presentation was well received invoking much discussion, emotion and genuine concern from all attendees who may be faced with difficult financial decisions as a result of the decision to remove the CAP or not. In closing, our chairman, Mr. Francis Gillis reiterated the Association's goals and summarized actions that the association believes are critical to the future of the CBRM including; the need for stronger Leadership from elected officials; greater cost reduction/productivity improvements; a freeze on hiring and major projects; and a forensic look for other ways to reduce costs. The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and emphasized that while the executive is working on their behalf, that it cannot do everything themselves and needed the assistance of all concerned taxpayer’s to discuss the issues with their extended family, friends and neighbors. As well, individual concerns should also be relayed to their respective Councilors and MLAs. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Allan Farrell Secretary CBRMPTA |
designed & developed by
High Octane Productions
|