Report of Annual Meeting of Waterfront Ratepayers after Fair Taxation (WRAFT)
Held at 12.30 pm on Nov 6, 2004 at York Reception Centre
1100 Millwood Rd., Toronto
The meeting was held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Association (FOCA). Bob Topp, Executive Director of WRAFT, spoke at the FOCA meeting. His address is attached.
Cliff Hatch, co-Chairman of WRAFT, chaired the meeting. Commencing at 12.30 pm, the first portion of the meeting was general discussion led by Cliff Hatch and Bob Topp, followed by questions and answers. The formal business meeting was held from 1.15 pm to 1.30 pm. The meeting was very well attended by representatives of member and prospective member associations. Attendees were referred to material handed out at the meeting which included the agenda, the proposed slate of directors, the list of members, the financial statements and a listing by municipality of %age increases in waterfront and non-waterfront properties for the last two assessments. (The latter listing is for the information of members and their memberships and not for publication.)
The meeting was advised of the make up and functions of the board of directors and executive committee and the plan to expand the board to be representative of the geographic spread of membership. Three new directors were proposed to be added at the meeting from the Thousand Islands, the Kawarthas and the Lake of the Woods. Members were encouraged to propose prospective board candidates for regions not currently represented. It was reported that there were now 80 member associations and the number was growing daily. Members and others were encouraged to check the website www.wraft.com on a regular basis as it was being used as the primary communications tool. Also members were asked to provide email addresses if they had not already done so to simplify communication.
The meeting was informed that in order to strengthen our case for reform, WRAFT is engaging the services of a doctoral candidate in Economics and specialist in property tax from the University of Michigan to prepare a paper on tax systems in various US state jurisdictions. This research will pay particular attention to existing methodologies for moving away from a pure assessment based approach for distributing property taxes. It is also intended to survey provincial practices in Canada including Nova Scotia where they recently introduced capping of assessments with a base year of 2001. This would be one possible mechanism for reducing volatility in assessment and taxes and for minimizing future shifts of tax onto waterfront. Al Morson described another approach which had been discussed in Muskoka and with provincial Finance staff whereby municipalities could choose to freeze or cap the total waterfront share of tax at current levels by introducing a variable mill rate for the waterfront class. This approach would require provincial legislation and would be permissive rather than mandatory as would be the case with the Nova Scotia type capping approach. WRAFT intends to share the results of its research with provincial staff and politicians.
The meeting was advised that it is considered essential to determine where the individual members of our member associations live and vote. The plan is to have them then communicate directly with their MPPs about the property tax issue and build a political presence which does not exist at present. Members would be advised as this project develops in the near future. It would require their active involvement.
The meeting was advised of the success of a recent WRAFT fundraising among individual members of Muskoka associations through a simple letter writing campaign. Members were asked to consider similar fundraising in their areas and to contact Bob Topp at wraft@sympatico.ca to obtain the letter which was used in the Muskoka campaign. $120,000 has already been raised and an additional $30,000 is being sought to reach our target.
Members and prospective members participated actively in the meeting. WRAFT executives were encouraged and agreed to communicate regularly with the membership as their efforts progressed. Those present who were not already members of WRAFT were strongly urged to join and strengthen the coalition's voice.
The formal portion of the first Annual Meeting ensued. Cliff Hatch acted as chair. He introduced the directors who were present. Al Morson, Treasurer, presented the Statement of Cash Receipts and Disbursements for the fiscal period from inception of WRAFT on February 18, 2004 to September 30, 2004. Copies had been provided to the members. Receipts including donations and membership fees totalled $150,000. Disbursements including administration, communications and management totalled $37,000 leaving a bank balance at September 30 of $113,000. It was moved, seconded and unanimously adopted that the financial statements be approved. Members were asked if they considered it necessary to have an audit on an annual basis. By a show of hands it was determined that a formal audit was not required.
It was then moved seconded and unanimously adopted that all acts, proceedings, appointments, elections and payments, enacted, made, done and taken by the directors and officers of WRAFT since its formation be approved.
The chairman next presented to the meeting the proposed slate of directors. There being no further nominations from the floor, it was moved, seconded and unanimously adopted that the following individuals serve as directors for the ensuing year: Cliff Hatch, Scott Fairley, Al Morson, Karl Jaffray, Doug Bryden, Tom Beer, Noel Thomas, Terry Rees, Bob Topp, Mike Hasley, David Bull, Gary Atkins and Glenn Kennedy.
There being no further business, the meeting was, on motion, terminated.