= Lions | Gate Hospital's finances took a decided-turn for the better Friday when administrator John Bor- _, Miwick received a telex from ‘ Health Minister Bob Mc- Clelland informing him_that the per diem allowance paid to the hospital by. the provincial government would be raised to $140.65 from the present $122.25, “effective May 1. - The hospital locked in a battle with Victoria for. the past’ two months over a _ $700,000 deficit in its current 1978-79 budget also received government ap- proval for a number of programs on which its claim for additional funding had in part, been based, among them: — --° An intensive care eo Tee a SSR a a a Sa eg ee Ses bes ie caring lam aciseaai annie amnacenemeotorinionbornsic tacts 0 nen ene eo or| ospitel .., “But,” he ‘added, “y. feel” _ confident now that it will be™ looked. after.” - - The gdod. news from .- . Victoria regarding, the million allocated to B.€. hospitals in the government’s April 2 budget in order to give them a better chance to “stabilize their operation Health Minister Mc- Clelland noted at the time, however, that hospitals would be expected to balance their books a year from now. The extra $25 million allocation, he said, would provide further funds “to help wipe out 1978-79 hospital deficits.” This, he continued, would enable - coming year's funding was: = ' part of .the additional $25 Task force says council reicr amameraentanit ray Nie meet aca ey vertctneimans ce ym "Page 9, April 11, 1979 - North Shore News * _— 7 yaewea Te ~ EXTRA FUNDING 2s the result of the provincial government’ 3 ‘April 2 election budget is designed to pat LGH finances hack in the black by 1980. (Ian Smith photo). WEST VAN TAX _PROBE "Hearing for townhouse care. Neurological _ special’ Total parenteral nutrition (a sophisticated method of intravenous feeding). The hospital’s extra costs for medications and surgical supplies had also been recognized by the govern- ment, said Borthwick. Asked how the substantial rise in per diem funding from May 1 onward would affect the $700,000 overrun for the fiscal year ended March 31, ’ Borthwick said this was not yet clear. seek tree A plea from Norgate Park residents in the area im- mediately west of Pem- berton and adjacent to _Norgate Elementary School for a screen of trees along the eastern boundary of the service lane for Pemberton industrial premises was received Monday by North Vancouver District council. The rear of these roperties, residents claim, cluttered with unsightly store items, garbage con- tainers and the like, as is the rear of most of the Pem- berton properties. Council, although generally sympathetic and recognizing the cost of such 81 fiscal year “with a clean slate”. The minister did not specifically mention the fiscal year 1979-80 in his remarks an indication, possibly, that the extra funds from May 1 onward are —_ intended to take care of existing 1978-79 overruns as well as to eliminate the need for overruns in 1979-80. Meanwhile, McClelland said the additional money did not affect the five per cent increase earlier forecast for hospital budgest during the coming year. ow Norgate residents screen a screep would be only $1,800 deferred a decision until the April 10 in-camera meeting on final budget decisions. . _ approval that should control all budgets West Vancouver council had nothing but praise Monday for the five-member Citizens Task Force on. Taxes which took a hard six- month look at municipal finances, taxes and services. However, the sign of ultimately counts is whether Council gives effect to any of the recommendations put forth by the task force. Highlight of the report is the task force’s suggestion that financial control of all municipal services should rest with municipal council. That means that financial control of the independent Library Board and Police Board should fall under council's jurisdiction. Council, it is recom- mended, should make three to five-year operating plans and capital budgets. The task force suggests that taxes could be paid on an installment basis, twice a year or quarterly so that the once-a-year crunch is taken off taxpayers and so that the municipality does not have ‘to borrow funds at the fiscal year end to meet current commitments. s ‘One of the strongest and most detailed recom- mendations is on seeking provincial contributions toward municipal police costs. In 1977, the report states, 12 municipalities in the province had their own police forces. Thirty-seven municipalities had contracts for policing with the RCMP. The federal government pays 33 per cent of RCMP costs while other municipalities foot the entire bill for their own police. The task force says this is unfair and municipalities with their own police should be treated like the others. EAVEST ROUC HE Provides the very best for just a little more are now a reality with our exclusive (UM at \| wi at Me ll ii a (I “il ati it . ail “a Ye r 7 rm il Serving the North Shore with a Quality Rain Water System since 1971. ' Alcan + BUN DOING 7 PROOVUCTS Estimates, of course, are free 980-5775 Alcan Z wy f ate ' BUILOING PROCAICTS Pacific Seamless Gutters Ltd. - 238 E. Esplanade, N.V. A proposal for eight two- storey frame townhouses. in ‘School expenditures, configuration near Lawson which council has little todo Creek at 1786 Esquimalt with, were also tackled in Avenue will be the first the report. project to be considered in West Vancouver under the Land valuesinthe Greater development permit Vancouver Metropolitan process. District in general and in West Vancouver in par- A public meeting on this ticular are much higher than proposal is being called for 8 in the rest of the province. p-m., Monday, April 23rd in municipal hall. The task force says that with many older. residents who no longer have school- - age children and with such highly assessed properties, CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 -We are open Good Friday, Saturday & Easter Sunday! Nature's Own Plants Ist on the North Shore for Quality & Service Here is Why: _We GUARANTEE our plants to be bug free Our plants are cleaned & repotted if necessary We will service any plant Vacation? We will care for your plants. Plants are pre-selected Yes, we deliver Quality at competitive prices individually WEEKLY GROWERS SPECIALS. SAVINGS PASSED ON TO YOU! 1940 LONSDALE North Vancouver (Next to London Drugs) 987-5610 an overlapping or “stepped” - ‘