As a member of the Budget Committee, I can report that it is always difficult for us to decide which projects proceed in a budget year and which must be postponed to other years.  During the process of setting budgets and establishing tax rates Council is always in the position of balancing residents' desire to maintain existing assets (e.g. roads, recreation complex, libraries) and undertaking new projects (e.g. sidewalks, arenas, playgrounds), while at the same time trying to minimize increases to property taxes.  Although we would always like to proceed with more projects as early as possible, I am pleased that with what we have been able to accomplish with the funds available while also maintaining Pickering's position of having the lowest tax rates of the lakeshore municipalities in Durham Region.

Pickering residents still pay the least in property taxes of Durham's urban municipalities.

The chart below shows the total 2006 municipal property taxes paid per $296,000 assessment for comparison purposes.

As a member of the Budget Committee, I can report Council is always in the position of balancing residents' desire to maintain existing services (such as programs for our youth, families, and seniors) and assets (such as roads, recreation complex, libraries) and undertaking new projects (such as sidewalks, arenas, playgrounds), while at the same time trying to minimize increases to property taxes.  I am pleased with what we have been able to accomplish with the funds available while also maintaining Pickering's position of having the lowest tax rates of the urban municipalities in Durham Region.

How Do Pickering's Taxes Compare?

Who gets your property tax dollars?

City Responsibilities
Fire protection, city roads, recreation, culture, parks, recreational and cultural programs, sidewalks, recreation complex, ice arenas, libraries, Pickering Village Museum, municipal planning and by-law enforcement.

Region Responsibilities
Water, waste collection, police, social services (homes for the aged, social housing, daycare, welfare), health, transit and regional roads.

Municipal Property Assessment
In the fall of 2005, all property owners in Ontario received an assessment notice from Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) with the new, updated assessment value of their property.  This new assessment is based on a valuation date of January 1^st, 2005 and will be used by the City of Pickering to calculate 2006 property taxes.

If you have any questions concerning your property's assessed value, please contact MPAC at 1.866.296.6722, or visit their website at www.mpac.ca

If you feel that the assessment is too high, there are two options available:

• Request for Reconsideration (Send completed form to MPAC)
  Deadline:  December 31^st, 2006
  Fee:  $0.00
• Appeal to Assessment Review Board - www.mpac.ca
  Deadline Extended to:  June 30^th, 2006
  Fee:  $75.00 (Residential) & $150.00 (Non-Residential)

Issue:
The Provincial Government today announced that property reassessments for 2006 and 2007 would be cancelled, to allow the Municipaly Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) time to implement the recommendations of the Provincial Ombudsman.

Background:
The March 2006 report of the Ombudsman of Ontario, entitled "Getting it Right", examined the integrity and efficiency of decision-making at MPAC, and provided a detailed list of 20 recommendations for MPAC and the Provincial Government to address.

Proposed Changes:
The Province has advised that in order to support MPAC in its implementation of measures to be undertaken to bring about the recommended changes in the Ombudsman's report, the scheduled property reassessment schedule would be cancelled for the next two years, until 2008.

In the summer of 2002 residents and I were pleased to participate in the offical opening of the new Pickering Millennium Waterfront Trail, located on the shores of Lake Ontario for Pickering residents to enjoy.  It provides many exciting ways to enjoy our waterfront.

The community's past, present and future come together on the Trail, where the story of Pickering is chronicled through art, cultural expression and recreational activities.

Millennium Square, located at the foot of Liverpool Road, provides an idyllic setting for community events and gatherings.  The 40-ft. Millennium Tree sculpture, located in the Square, is representative of white pine trees and the shipping industry, both a very important part of Pickering's past.  The Trail provides many ways of enjoying the outdoors, with a boardwalk, a water-spray park for youngsters, and refreshment stops.

Former Mayor Arthurs and Councillor Pickles at the June 19, 2000 ground breaking event for the Waterfront Trail.

• Completion of Finch Avenue Phase One Works which includes driveway & boulevard restoration & the Duffins Trail Installation
• Road Resurfacing on Old Brock Road from Wellington Street to Regional Road One & Concrete Sidewalk Installation from Bovington Place to the Canadian Legion
• Bridge Deck Replacement for the Reesor Creek Bridge located on the Pickering / Uxbridge Townline near Sideline 36
• Bridge Deck Replacement for the Bulmer Bridge located on Concession 5 near the Greenwood Conservation Area
• New Sidewalk Installation of Valley Farm Road south of Diefenbaker Court
• Playground Construction and the installation of new play equipment at Beverly Morgan Park, Denmar Park & Valleyview Park
• Centennial Park the installation of a new Washroom Facility
• Street Light Improvements on Kingston Road from Guild Road to Notion Road
• Installation of a IPS Pedestrian Signal on Valley Farm Road south of Kingston Road
• Tennis Court Resurfacing at Village East Park & Greenwood Park
• Kingston Road - Sidewalk (north side) Notion Road to Bainbridge Drive, in conjunction with Brookfield Development
• Sideline #4 - Hwy 7 to Concession 5 Road - Complete south portion detailed design for future reconstruction of Sideline #4, in conjunction with Barclay Fieldstone Estates Subdivision
• Woodview Ave. - Fince Ave. south to hydro corridor. - Reconstruction and installation of sanitary sewer and storm sewer in conjunction with Nicou Subdivision
• Finch Ave. - west of Altona Road - Installation of services (Storm and Sanitary) and partial reconstruction of Finch Ave. adjacent to and in conjunction with Nicou Subdivision.
• New Energy Efficient Windows at Greenwood Community Centre - 2nd floor Banquet Hall
• New Oil Furnace at Mt. Zion Community Centre
• Pickering Museum Village Foundation have retained the services of an architect to provide design and working drawings and specifications for the Hotel construction & restoration at the Pickering Museum Village.  The working drawings and specifications will be completed in 2006.

Councillor Pickles recognizing the acheivement of fitness patrons at the Pickering Recreation Centre, 2006.

Councillor Pickles inspects progress on construction of the Brock Road Railway underpass at Taunton Road. Once complete there will be no further delays of drivers or emergency vehicles due to trains. Work can then begin on further improvements along Brock Road.

• Placement of Surface Treatment on Concession 7 from York/Durham Line to Sideline 32
• Placement of asphalt pavement on Sideline 16 from north of 407 to Dutchmaster Nurseries
• Resurfacing of asphalt pavement on Brougham Road from Highway 7 to Regional Road 1
• Placement of Surface Treatment on Hoxton Street from Old Brock Road to Pickering Uxbridge Townline
• Placement of Surface Treatment on Westney Road from Regional Road 5 to Sandtrap Court
• Installation of Storm Sewers and Road Reconstruction on Finch Avenue from Brock Road to the Eastern Terminus
• Completion of the Rosebank CN bridge and Roadway approaches on Rosebank Road just north of Sheppard Avenue
• Sidewalk improvements on Central Street from Old Brock Road to Claremont Public School
• New Sidewalk installations on Westney Road fronting Valley View Public School, Finch Avenue from Guild Road to Royal Road and Valley Farm Road from Fieldlight Boulevard to Kingston Road
• Playground Construction and the installation of new play equipment at Martin's Tot Lot and Don Beer Memorial Park

• Completion of Highway 7 intersections lighting at Paddock Road
• Installed playground equipment in Greenwood Park and assisted installation of new equipment at Valley View Public School in Greenwood
• Sidewalk along Kingston Road (Brock Road to Notion Road) and Valley Farm Road South of Finch Avenue

• Award construction of Duffin Valley Trail from Brookridge Park to Valleyfarm Road.
• Road Improvements:
  • Rehabilitation of Pickering Parkway
  • Resurface Audley Road south of Highway #7
  • Remediation of Paddock Road
  • Safety improvements at Westney Road & Concession #8

• New playground equipment at Major Oaks Park, Beechlawn Park, and Whitevale Park.
• New family change rooms and new fitness equipment at the Recreation Complex.
• More parking and other improvements Recreation Complex.
• A new ice pad and other renovations at Don Beer Arena.
• Concession 8 (east of 4 Seasons Golf Course) slope works and hard surface road.
• New sidewalks in front of the police station at Kingston Road and Brock Road.
• New sidewalks on the east side of Brock Road between Major Oaks Road and Dellbrook Drive by the daycare.
• New sidewalks on west side of Whites Road to Craighurst Court.

Councillor David Pickles cutting the ribbon on the new family change rooms.

Councillor David Pickles trying out the new fitness equipment.

• New playground equipment at Centennial Park
• Petticoat Bridge on the Waterfront Trial
• 7th Concession (east of Salem Road to Lakeridge Road) hard surface treatment.
• Pickering/Uxbridge Town line - Culvert improvements at Sideline 26.
• Old Brock Road -Culvert replacement at Hoxton St., Claremont.
• New Pickering Baseball Association (PBA) Clubhouse at Brockridge Park shared cost with PBA

• New playground equipment at Brock Ridge Park, Village East Park, Green River Park, Denmar Park, Claremont Park and Forest Glen Park.
• Realigned and improved Pickering Parkway east of Brock Road to accommodate the new Walmart store constructed on the Metro East Trade Centre lands across from the new Canadian Tire store.
• Additional street lights along Kingston Road, Valley Farm Road to Notion Road
• Railway crossing gates at Dixie Road and Fairport Road to provide better safety and cease whistles.
• Completion of William Street in Claremont with final asphalt surface and a sidewalk.
• New sidewalks on Pinegrove Avenue and Mossbrook Square to complement the new guarded school crossings in the Altona West Neighbourhood.
• Salem Road surface treated from Concession 5 to Highway # 7 to eliminate on going dust problems.
• Concession 5 road improvements included new hard top surface from Greenburn Place to Sideline 4.
• Construction of the Waterfront Trail, including the boardwalk/splash area and other amendments at Liverpool Road beach area.