Thanks everyone for your comments, and Joan thank you for taking the time to read the reports and having an interest in the future of our community.
Yes, I have read all the reports and the business plan for the velodrome like all of the council. For anyone who has not seen the presentation you can watch this link with the velodrome presentation starting about the 20 minute mark.
http://archive.isiglobal.ca/vod/milton/ ... 0.flv.htmlAs noted in the presentation and business plan the professional cycling events are estimated to be held about 10-15 weekends a year leaving the other 330-360 days a year for combined events. As noted in the Forest City cycling track in London Ontario which is a substandard track, the use is about 15% elite cyclists and 85% recreational cyclists and the peak use varies with little use in the summer and heavy use on the winter so the infield can be used for a number of sports as well as trade shows and concerts similar to the Berlin cycling track which has a photo included in the report.
Also noted in the business plan in Appendix B Case Study Summary which available to read on the Town website, the only other cycling track in North America which meets the UCI standards for international meets is located in Carson California just outside of Los Angeles a similar market to the GMA in terms of cyclists. This track which is run by a private company has been generating a profit since its 5th year of operation after it was built in 2004.
I insisted on the recommendation which staff included in the report to have a private board run the facility similar to the Canada Games indoor facilities in Halifax which Mayor Krantz, Councillor Huffman and I toured last year at an FCM conference, where the city receives money every year from the operation of the facility. I have requested staff to find out more on this arrangement that possibly the Town can adopt to further protect taxpayers.
Not mentioned in the council presentation but in the business plan Appendix C ii Consultation Summary by Group (Non-Track) the Ontario Basketball Association which has offices in Toronto wants to use the infield for tournaments and practises for their teams in the GMA and have included a letter of support for funding the facility and possibly re-locating their 16 staff to use the offices in this 122,000 square foot facility of which the cycling track only uses between 25-30% of the floor area.
I agree with the Mayor who has been promoting this facility stating " he would not do anything that would be a risk to the taxpayers of Milton". Other councillors and I have adopted this position questioning staff on the estimates and there is still a number of details in the Memorandum of Understanding which still have to be worked out before council agrees to this proposal to ensure that there is proper planning and financial requirements in the legacy fund that the Province has set up to assist in the operation of this facility. If these measures are not included, which I stated at the council meeting I will be voting against going any further with this proposal.
In regards to Joan's comments about my tax policy. I would recommend that anyone concerned with my position on budgets watch the December 12th webcast of the 2012 budget as I chair the committee and I voted to cut taxes more than I voted to approve programs and facilities that would benefit Milton.
During the last budget in 2011 only Councillor Malboeuf and I made motions to cut costs, the motions that I made that were approved, amount to 90% of the decreases and I was defeated on almost a million dollars in other cuts that I proposed. I also have voted numerous times at both the region and town to defeat motions by councillors who wanted to raise taxes including some by my opponents.
For anyone not aware of Milton's position in comparison to other municipalities I prepare and submit this chart to both councils every year for their information. (my apologies for the irregular pattern of the chart)
2011 RESIDENTIAL TAX RATES
TOWN/CITY MILL RATEX$350,000 % DIFFERENCE $ DIFFERENCE
(AVERAGE ASSESSMENT)
TORONTO .007929218 =$2,775.23
MILTON
RURAL .00808743 2,830.60 + 1.99 % + 55.37
URBAN .00851644 2,980.75 + 7.41 + 205.52
BURLINGTON R. .00936781 3,278.73 + 18.14 + 503.50
HALTON H. RUR .00941323 3,294.63 + 18.72 + 519.40
OAKVILLE .00957907 3,352.67 + 20.81 + 577.44
CALEDON .00961677 3.365.87 + 21.28 + 590.64
MISSISSAUGA .00962611 3,369.14 + 21.40 + 593.91
BURLINGTON U. .00996134 3,486.47 + 25.63 + 711.24
BRAMPTON .01181834 4,136.42 + 49.05 +1,361.19
FLAMBOROUGH R..01259433 4,408.02 + 58.83 +1,632.79
HAMILTON .01479262 5,177.42 + 86.56 +2,402.19
OSHAWA .01658715 5,805.50 +109.19 +3,030.27
PLEASE NOTE : MILL RATES ARE THE AREA TOTALS INCLUDING REGIONAL
AND EDUCATION TAX RATES.
THESE FIGURES CAN BE VERIFIED AT EACH MUNICIPALITY'S WEB SITE
OR FINANCE DEPARTMENT PHONE NUMBERS.
COLIN BEST
905-878-3623
The Toronto residential taxes are artificially low due to subsidy of having the highest commercial and industrial taxes in southern Ontario (check the economic development website for details) and constant bail outs by the provincial government and surrounding regions including Halton which through a GTA pooling policy paid up to $ 30 million a year from Halton alone to pay for services in Toronto that Halton and other regions do not have. This policy which has been reducing annually in Halton by $ 6 millon a year ends in 2013.
A resident in rural Milton which I am also part of, pays on average $ 1500 LESS than a similar valued property in rural Flamborough just west of Campbellville for the same services and facilities.
A resident in urban Milton which I also represent, pays an average of $ 390 or 14% less than a similar valued property in Mississauga and even less than a number of other urban areas mentioned nearby.
I will continue to work to have Milton the lowest taxed municipality in southern Ontario and have the best value for services and facilities now and in the future. I encourage you, and all residents to be involved in the discussions on the future of our community and look forward to hearing from more people at meetings and in other forums.
Colin Best
Local & regional councillor
Wards 2,3,4,5 North of Derry road.
Milton/Halton