‘IT'S TOO EARLY’ -

December 26 1982

HUMPHREYS

- Tel. 985-2131

“TAXPAYERS 1 in West Vancouver are not

being given an adequate opportunity for
visional

Blackburn, detnien
copies of “the
» provisional budget will
mot presently be sent to
‘each of the
municipal ity’s 11
ratepayers’ associations.

Instead* they will get

“B one-page summary

. and the chance to'study

a

, the West Van Memorial
"« Library.

one of three detailed

‘copies to be placed in

Blackburn urged
council to be
“progressive” and allow
.. Fatepayers’ associations
«the chance to study the
budget.

“I feel that, par-
_ ticularly in these times
~-of restraint, it is im-
‘ portant that any input
from ratepayers be

- based on their having

’

sufficient information to
provide informed ad-

' vice,” she said.

Nine out of the 11

ratepayers’ associations
‘““ghe had contacted had

‘formation,

asked this in-

Blackburn

for

told council}.

Allowing comment on
the provisional budget,
she said, could save

“money if it meant that
‘ council would not then

‘fave to spend anything

- from $5,000 to $35,000™

Fears that ordinary
ratepayers would have
difficulty _understnding
the budget wer

groundless, she
There are competent
people living in every:
ratepayer area.”

But Mayor Derrick

Humphreys emphasized’.

that council maintains:
an open-door policy and ©

was always prepared to
give public access in-
formation.

However he believed
it was too carly for

general release of the |

provisional budget.

So far council is
dealing with a budget
that has not been pared
or reviewed by council
members, he said.

Staff had included in
the budget several
alternatives which had
to be considered, he
explained.

Also, he said, there.

were several “im-
ponderabdies™ ‘such as
the possibility of a
variable mill rate,
provincial grants and
the school tax formula..
“The public will be
given the chance to
examine the proposals
by staff and the alter-
natives very soon,” he
said. “But I believe that
we would be doing the
work of this council and
the public a disfavour if
we sent out the
provisional budget to
any and all at this
moment.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE A4

said. _

a sharing pact - to be based on.

“ITs OFFICIAL - North Vancoaver ‘Recreation
Commission has been saved from -being scuttled.

7. ‘provisional cost-sharing formula was approved,
“in

just It days before the deadline North Vancouver

by both North Vancouver councils -

some: oe in it, it at least
removes ‘the. uncertainty ~
which has haunted. users of
North Van recreation

the: degree of usage ~~
residents of the

oD istehet council had
previously given notice that
it would not renew its
contract to share financing
of the recreation com-
mission - the joint City-
District body which ad-~
ministers recreation in the
two municipalities - as of
December 31, if an
ement was not reached.
City Mayor Jack- Loucks

said that the version of the

“Deadline threat beaten | by 17 days

agreement approved by the
councils Monday was the
fifth or sixth draft. Final
approved won't be given
until the two councils have
sorted out remaining
questions, he said.

But both Loucks
District... Mayor

at least approval i. princi inciple

.at the ‘Monday
‘which were the last

CONTINUED ON PAGE. All

NEWS proto Siam Dawts

TIMELY REMINDER not to ovendo it this holdiny season Is received by a motorist in North Vancouver, who, as ie
happened, had nothing to worry about. Police are out in fall force om the North Shore this year with roadblocks to
ensure that those who drink and drive don’t do so for long. They're also checking to cusure car travelers are wearing

scatbeles.

Baker were in a hurry to get

.

aon
ie