Proposed Boundary Adjustment Information Flyer - October 2002

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TAX-RElATED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS If I owe a payment for either local improvements, current and/or outstanding taxes, to whom would ! make payment? Settlement provisions in the boundary adjustment agreement provide that all payments that would have been made to the Town of Tecumseh for local improvements, taxes, find even outstanding taxes from a prior year, will be made to the City of Windsor effective January 1, 2003. Will my residential taxes increase? Residential taxes would increase over time to fund services provided by the City of Windsor. Your tax rates will eventually be brought in line with City rates. Changes in property assessment values and/or increases in the municipal budget will also impact your residential taxes. Will tax increases in the annexed area occur all at once? No. Under the boundary adjustment agreement, any increase in the rate of taxes for municipal purposes must be phased in equally over a period of five years. For commercial and industrial lands, rate increases are limited under Provincial Bill 140. When are tax payments due to the City of Windsor? In general, the City, taxes are paid in four installments. In 2002, tax installments were payable in February, Aprill July and September. When can I expect my first tax bill from the City of Windsor? Your 2003 interim tax bill will be issued late January 2003. What will my interim tax bill be based on? It will be approximately one-half of your total 2002 taxes. Where will my tax bill be sent? \ To the same address to which your current tax bill is sent. Will I still have to pay non- resident user fees for services provided by City of Windsor departments and agencies? No. What is the late payment penalty? A penalty of 1.25% is authorized by legislation to be added to current tax arrears on the first day of default and again on the first day of each month thereafter. Subsequent payments are applied to penalty and interest charges first, and then to taxes, beginning with the oldest outstanding balance. What is the hospital levy? The hospital levy was approved by Windsor City Council in 1999 to raise $14 million for the Together In Caring fundraising campaign for the Windsor-Essex Hospitals Foundation. How long will the hospital levy be applied? It is projected to end in 2005. Is a charitable tax receipt provided for my contribution to the hospital levy? No. Revenue Canada Bulletin IT110R3 - Gifts and Official Donation Receipts - clearly states under Section 3 that any transfer of property by a donor to a registered charity must be voluntary in order to be considered a gift. Section 9 further states that if any legal obligation is placed on the payer to make a donation, the donation would lose its status as a gift. Payment of realty taxes is not voluntary; therefore no funds raised through a tax levy, regardless of the initiative the funds were raised for, xvould qualify as a gift under the Revenue Canada definition. What methods of payment are available for paying my taxes? 1. Tax payments can be made at any approved bank, credit union or trust company in greater Windsor on or before the installment due date shown on the tax billing. Please bring the original tax bill. 2. Payment may be made in person at Windsor City Hall, Room 100, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. 3. Payment can be mailed. Enclose your cheque, payable to the "Tax Collector, City of Windsor" and the installment stub, to: Tax Collector City of Windsor Corporate Services Department Revenue Division P.O. Box 1607 Windsor, ON NGA 6S1 4. Pre-authorized payments are available. Further information will be released upon approval of the annexation. 5. Payment can be made using your financial institution's telephone or Internet banking services. Does the City of Windsor provide automatic payment of taxes? 1. Taxpayers may select a plan that automatically withdraws payments from their bank account on the tax installment dates. 2. Taxpayers may elect to have their funds withdrawn in 10 equal payments from February to November.