1994. 60 pages

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GEOFF GIBBONS

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RAIN-SOAKED JUBILATION was the order of the day last Sunday at North Vancouver's Kinsman
Stadium as the Under-13 North Shore Selects captured the 1994 Coasial Cup. (See story page 14.)

WVD budget features small tax decrease in 1994

WEST VANCOUVER District Council
went one better than Mayor Mark
“Sager’s predicted 0% tax increase
* Monday night and introduced a munic-
ipal budget with a 0.2% overall tax cut.

WEST VANCOUVER.
OISTRICT COUNCIL

By Maureen Curtis

| The budget’s actual 1.5% increase in general
taxes has been offset by 1.7% in revenues from
new develonment in the municipality.

The 0.2% decrease in general taxation will
also offset the 0.27% tax increase faced by resi-
dential taxpayers that results (rom a 3% shift of
commercial taxes on to residential properties
incorporated in the budget by the municipality.

According to West Vancouver Coun. Ron
Wood, who introduced the 1994 budget for ini-
tial council readings, the business community
“has absorbed large increases in assessed property
values that translate inte an “onerous” tax
increase.

“Council does not want to drive busine
fram West Vancouver by imposing high taxes.

said Wood. .

He described the $98 million musticipal bud-
get (including money collected for West
Vancouver School District 45) as a “hold-the-
line” document that responds to concerns
expressed in a 1993 West Vancouver citizens’
survey and by representatives of local ratepayer
groups earlier this year.

The result is 2 $57,093,100 municipal operat-

ing budget (of which $39,357,700 is collected,

through taxation and utility rates).

A further $11,900,000 has been set aside for
capital projects.

Taxes are being held in check despite increas-
es in West Vancouver school taxes from $6 mil-
tion to $46.5 million from 1991 to 1993 and a
$36,000 decrease in provincial revenue-sharing
grants 10 the municipality.

The (994 Greater Vancouver Regional
District (GVRD) charges for local sewage sys-
tem services have increased 16% over 1993

The gero-increase budget has been achieved
despite increases in West Vancouver fire depart-
ment salaries, which were negotiated by the
GYRD and increases in West Vancouver Police
Department salaries. which were settled through
arbitration.

Expenditures on police and fire protection

services in West Vancouver, which constitute

36% of the district’s budget, have increased
3.8% for police services and 5% for fire services
in 1994 over 1993,

“Council and ali other municipal staff have
zero increases provided for 1994,” Wood said.

“Council is determined to hold the line on
salaries in 1994 negotiations with other employ-
ee groups.”

He added that cuts to West Vancouver
District's municipal budget have been made in
areas where they will bave the least impact on
services to citizens.

Some of the areas that were cut back in the
budget included:
fA the annual civic dinner;

virtually all staff education programs and trav-
el outside B.C.

Reallocation of funds has permitted some
jncrease in services:

@ funding for an additional police officer to
work on patrol or as a schaol liaison has been
tentatively budgeted:
& West Vancouver will also hire a new part-time
person to coordinate recreational programs for
the physically and mentally challenged.

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