/. Van cost-cut

Ideas to reduce bureouzratic waste in
West Vancouver District.

Source: West Vancouver Municipal
Employees Association

Municipality
rapples with
3m shortfall!

By Rohert Galster

News Reporter

OF ail the money-saving ideas pre-
sented to West Vancouver council,
none comes from a better-
informed source than the West
Vancouver Municipal Employees
Association.

The group presented municipal manager
Doug Allan Meth a list of 74 cost-saving
ideas to help the municipality cope with its
$3 million shortfall. (See hag graphic for
details.)

“It was a brainstorming session more
than anything else really,” said the associa-
tion’s vice-president Rob Metcalfe.

However, contents of the suggestions
Were not meant to be made public unul var-
ious municipal heads had had a chance to
comment on them. But before that could
happen, someone handed a copy of the sug-
gestions to a councillor who arculated it.

Allan said the process hasn’t ocen halted
by the recent publicity and is continuing ;
wi t heads commenting on the su; ions.

Some, like avid, council watcher and Ambleside and Dundarave Ratepayers’ Association vice-presi-
dent Lionel Lewis embraced many of the suggestions, particularly as they pertain to the Parks depart-
ment.

Lewis said the document is a “damning indictment” of the Parks Department, particularly when it
comes to “the wastage and bureaucracy.”

Kevin Pike, West Vancouver's director of parks and recreation, points out his department has already
submitted a list of measures totalling $700,000 for council’s consideration. Of those, Pike said half con-
stitute revenue increases with the balance resulting from service cuts.

“We're under no illusions that citizens would rather look to parks and recreation than police and
fire,” said Pike. “People would rather have firemen than tulips.”

He added thar the municipal employees’ association’s concerns that some managers drive municipal
vehicles is unfounded.

“In the end it may work out the same for the municipality,” said Pike.

._A comparison of staffing levels throughout the municipality’s various departments between
September 199] and Seprember 1996 shows minor changes in all the departments except recreation.
During the five-year period, the department’s ranks have swollen by a whopping 28%, from 296

Wednesday, March 26, 1997 ~ North Shore News — 3

‘Stop Hiriag Consultonts).
Bes these: ore skills

‘Senio ‘managers steuld biing'to.~
the job when'they ore hired.” ~:

6
aan

; NEWS graphic Cathleen Powelt

employees in 1991 to 379 in 1996. -

Although ike couldn’: think of any reason for the increase, he pointed out that an increase in rex<-
ation staff levels could only correspond to an increase in pr . These in num have pre-set mini-
mums that do not allow them to go ahead without reaching at least a break-even sign-up toral.

Meanwhile suggestions that having an arborist, a community forester and a forester on staff was
excessive drew 3 similar NSE.

“It’s really = small, small effort on the environmental side of our responsibility,” said Pike, adding
that other communities do not have the same amount of forest land found in West Vancouver.

As for sugge: tons that West Vancouver facilities be limited to the municipality's residents, Pike bris-
ded, saying the iiea has been Bloated before and is being considered. .

“We don’t di-criminate against non-residents,” said Pike. “There are some social and relational issues
that are problem: if you institute a program like thar.”

These include dealing with the associated administrative headaches and deciding what should be
done for former residents. Pike said about 23% of the Seniors Centre's users are non-West Vancouver
residents, while roughly 15% of registered recreation program are filled with outside residents.

“We don’t want West Vancouver residents going to North Vancouver discriminated against (by
North Vancouver),” added Pike. L Soy

Weed out inefficiencies,
say West Yan residents

Hesnoby Longley low, Yor, Dist Yon. Dist W. Yan
Other

NEWS graphic Cathioen Powell

THE above is based on a 1996 residential property tax compar-
ison prepared by Maple Ridge. West Van is the clear leader.

Property taxes on the rise

WEST Vancouver residents will face a property tax increase
regardless of how council chooses to finance its $3 million
shortfall. .

West Vancouver's property assessments increased an average of 7% this year.
The average rate becomes the benchmark for the municipality’s tax collection.
Properties appreciating exactly 7% will see no further increase above the one set
by the municipality. Meanwhile those appreciating less than at the average rate
will see a decrease provided taxes are not hiked.

But those properties appreciating faster than the average will bear both that
increase and whatever rate hike council decides on.

According to West Vancouver's director of finance George Horwood, some
of the increases in assessed property values will be much higher. Areas hardest
hit by these increases will be those with waterfront access where waterfront
properties have appreciated as much as 20%.

“Some of those guys are going to get hit hard,” said Coun. Russ Fraser.

In addition, municipal taxes make up only 55% of the total property tax bill.
The other 45% is made up of schoo! taxes, payments to the GVRD and other
services, which are almost certain to rise this year.

Regardless of the increases, councillors heard the preliminary results of a
MarkTrend survey during Monday's meeting which showed the majority of
individuals in support of a 5% municipal tax increase.

: Pat Meodows Won City Srty Coquitlam — Kew West.

(RED Municipol 2 vstities HE schoo!

a

Opposition to looming 9.5% municipal tax

By Robert Gaister

News Reporter

AS West Vancouver District meanders
through its budget deliberations, many sea-
soned council watchers continue to call for
no new taxes.

The district is faced with a $3 million budget shortfall
as a result of funding cuts by the provincial government.
According to George Horwood, the municipality’s direc-
tor of finance, municipal taxes would need to rise 9.5% to
make up the shortfall without cutting services.

During a public meeting to discuss possible moves to
make up the shortfall, members of various arts and cul-
tural groups appeared before councillors and pleaded
their causes and why their funding should not be cut.
Many suggested a municipality as wealthy as West
Vancouver should maintain a high level of services for its
residents. Several of the spcakers suggested that a 9.5%
tax hike would be acceptable to maintain the high quali-
ty of life West Vancouverites have become accustomed
to.

But many others say the budget scenario involves a
third option: identifying inefficiencies in the municipali-
ty and correcting them.

Former councillor Andy Danyliu suggested the
municipality seck out increased efficiency.

“] think there’s a tremendous opportunity for (efh-
ciency) improvement,” said Danyliu.

The areas he identified as possible targets include:

@a hiring freeze;
@ moratorium on capital construction and
& the reallocation of staff.

“Why should people (staff) always do what they've
always done,” he said.

Others, like former councillor and current council
watcher Carolanne Reynolds, have been more specific in
their suggestions. Among various tcchnolugy improve-
ments, she identified specifics within the current system

hike voiced
and suggested contracting out of various department
functions. 4 h 4

Reynolds pointed to the $17.75 per hour wa; ai
to the Cleaners of Ambleside restrooms. se

“Suggestion No. } therefore is caut-sourcing,” said
Reynolds during a recent budger public meeting. “Please
look into contracting out the cleaning. This should result
in considerable savings.”

In a March 8 letter to council, Jerry Heddinger sum-
marized the plight of West Vancouverites as: “We are way
over-taxed.” . ;

Although Heddinger attributes the problem to down-
loading by the provincial and. federal governments, he

. also points to contract-
ing out as the way to
sieht get around it.
Distric “Eliminate civil

employees where passi-

ble and contract out
the services to independent contractors,” suggested
Heddinger. “Have you watched our crews repairing
roads, or digging a ditch for a water pipe? It takes four
people to watch and one to do the work. Ridiculous!”

West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce president
John Clark said the reaction foliowing the public portion
of the budget deliberations was clear.

“My phone’s been ringing off the hook,” said Clark
of calls from people concerned with the possibility of
taxes going up.

Concern over tax rates in West Vancouver is bornc
out by a study of various Lower Mainland municipality
tax rates, The 1996 tax survey compiled by Maple Ridge
shows West Vancouver's residential property taxes at the
top of the heap. (See table this page.)

But Coun. Russ Fraser sounded anything but
resigned to those taxes climbing even higher. He said
council has not made any final decisions and plans to
leave no stone unturned in its search for savings.

“Everything’s up for grabs, (there are) no sacred
cows,” he said.

ncouver.
‘Council °