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Showing posts from March, 2010

New Taxes for Ontario

This summer (2010) the  Ontario  Government is set to put into force its new harmonized GST/PST sales tax which will apply a 13% sales tax to everything we purchase. Canadians have had two things that they have always been able to count on as being tax free - things that they could use to save money and accumulate wealth. They are your: (a) primary home; and (b) RRSP. That's it. If the Ontario Government gets away with implementing their new harmonized GST/PST sales tax of 13%, the top effective income tax rates in Ontario will be as follows. 38% on the first $20,000 53% on the next $40,000 59.5% on every dollar over $60,000 On top of that, you have to pay your Ontario Fair Share Health Tax, your city realty taxes, your city garbage fees, your city water fees, your city street parking permit fees, your annual Ontario and vehicle license plate fees, your Ontario land transfer tax, your land transfer tax, your gasoline taxes, your liquor taxes, your air departure taxes, your entertai

El Nino

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When enough daytime heating takes place, namely over central and southeast Florida, thunderstorms can begin to produce damaging wind gusts, hail and perhaps an isolated tornado during the midday, afternoon and early evening hours. It will be interesting to see if colder than average Gulf of Mexico water temperatures at present plays a role the magnitude and number of severe thunderstorms across the nation this spring. The slightly cooler less moist air, combined with a weakening El NiƱo could reduce the strength and number of storms.

Florida Record

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If the last three months have made you think, “I can’t remember a winter ever being this cold in Central Florida,” you were right. The region’s record-breaking cold winter finally comes to an end this weekend similarly to the way it started: Chilly. Central Floridians are starting to think spring, and many said they are a little tired of what’s usually a rare occurrence dragging on for almost three months. After computing all the average temperatures from every day this winter, the National Weather Service said the average has been a little less than 56 degrees. That’s over a degree colder than the city’s previously coldest winter on record, set in 1954.The overall perspective from Central Floridians seems to be that if we have to live through a cold winter, we might as well set a record.

Lady Lake Developers

If you live in this retirement haven, you might never have considered who controls how high your grass can grow or what color you can paint your house. But now The Villages developer, who has been in charge of these rules, intends to pass the baton over to The Villages Center Community Development District. Residents, too, will have their say in at least one public hearing in early 2010. "This is the next logical step for the districts to take over their own future," development district manager Janet Tutt said. Lady Lake officials this month gave the community development district the OK to take charge of property rules in the town's section of The Villages. Lake County leaders will soon review the issue in an upcoming meeting.