SE mailbox, ee A7 - Wednesday, February 10, 1982 - North Shore News WV mustn‘t become ‘house divided’ OPEN LETTER TO WEST VANCOUVER RESIDENTS Tke lack of remedial ac- tion by the provincial government concerning the anomalies in the provincial school financing formula is dividing our community into what appears to be two op- posing schools of thought. | believe this is the time for united understanding of the cause of the prablem and not for internal local opposing thought and action. The Minister of Educa- tion, the Hon. Brian Smith, was warned at a meeting at Hollyburn School in November 1980; he also had his own Fleming report that clearly set out the problem; I warned him again in October that alterations in the pro- vincial school financing bas- ed on pooled assessments throughout the province was inequitable and inequitious. The Hon. Allan Williams was told at a joint meeting of West Vancouver municipal council and the board of School District No. 45 that the 1% million dollars due to go from West Vancouver to finance schooling elsewhere was intolerable. He said he hoped some rectification would ensue after the recent cabinet meetings. The rec- tification of the municipal blanket appeal against the assessment levels has reduc- ed the $144 million to $400,000 which is the same as we paid out in 1981. This is still intolerable. The needs for sensible school financing locally on all our taxpayers must not be permitted to divide those homes prsently against those homes with children in the school system and _ the association. The lack of pro- without children teachers vincial action gives rise to a militancy of thoughts which tend to divide us within ourselves and to give un- wanted radical thought, ac- tion, and licence which we ill deserve. Our present board of school trustees will do their best under the cir- cumstances, I am sure. All things are not possible, par- ticularly at this time. Let our attitudes individually and collectively be focused on the real problem that besets us which is the provincial school financing formula. Let us avoid internal peti- tions, precipitous meetings, inflammatory advertise- ment, or threats internally which divert our attention from the problem which we must face with unity. Let not the productivity of our teachers or those they teach be interfered with by themselves or others. We have every right to ex- pect from the Minister of Education or from our Member of the Legislative Assembly a solution, even temporary this year, and a sincere undertaking to rec- tify the situation before next year. In the meantime, let us all in mutual concord, make certain that we do not become a house divided within itself. Derrick Humphreys Mayor West Vancouver N. Van trustees seek school tax relief OPEN LETTER TO EDUCATION MINISTER BRIAN SMITH At the January 12 meeting, the North Van- couver School Board again considered the likely proper- ty tax impact on our local taxpayers in 1982. In par- ticular, we reviewed the Alcoholic Dear Editor: I must admit to feelings of anger and frustration over the article by Mr. Bob Hunter in the Sunday News of January 31. The tragic death of this young woman is evidence indeed of the misunderstanding society has on a very serious pro- blem in this and every other Waterfront Dear Editor: At the January 15 meeting of the West Van Waterfront Owners’ Association, the assessors verbally promised to accept all assessment ap- peals dated and mated on January 20. This promise was made in front of over 100 rate payers present at that mecting For the benefit of water HIS N HER NATURAL HAIR OF SIGNS By appomtment 964 GHAI / foo answer Cally), 86 44 OOMPPEN bev teen Morn Sin Yam cVge sty {trear sy egy Sywal Yan “yg es ‘$n rty Fleming report, considered its recommendations, and noted its predictions of im- pact if no changes are made in the financing approach. I write at this time to ex- press our serious concern and alarm over the con- tinued inequity of taxation in the province. Due to the rapidly rising assessments, our homeowners last year were faced with average school tax increases of 22%, although our budget in- crease was held to 11%. Many homeowners. ex- perienced much larger in- creases than the above. Yet we note that many taxpayers in localities outside the metro area actually = ex- perienced a very small in- article ‘insensitive’ community. More and more doctors today have come to accept the fact that alcohol is a disease, and that some otherwise normal people have, through no fauit of their own, no control over” alcohol. It is my contention that Mr. Hunter’s article was in- sensitive, ill-prepared and was written without research whatever. any Mr. Hunter would be well advised to contact the local offices of A.A. to get his facts straight on this matter before writing further on this subject. N. Rutledge North Vancouver owners appealing front owners not as yet con- tacted, we are requesting they immediately forward their cheque for $75.00 as in- itial payment for the fee for Mr. C. Parrish, the profes: who has represent sional appraiser, been retained to our group appeal. Will cach and every water front owner please send their cheque to the address on our haw and naturally THIS AD WORTH Firat Eaptros Fob 1/ ogame CE Ger [POT Mea: IN Tht INTE BANA TROONAL PL ASA Pheri COIN FO MARINE Gt AND OC APT ANC HM. Whe Cut The natural cut follows the flow of the 9 Cut falls wear Comb and let dry or blow dry The Carl Permacur is a hew PH Controlled perm Combined with a natural Cut to Create an exctting new look you Just wash and wear No setting of blow drying FIVE DOLLARS appointment letter (3180 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, B.C... V7V 1N4) to the attention of Mr Jim Berry, Secretary Treasurer. Your co-operabon is ap- preciated Michael Moody President WV Waterfront Owners Assn exactly as the hair Compietely wash = and crease or a decrease! In- deed, many paid no school tax at all! Even more serious is the fact that unless you take definite action, a similar situation will occur again this year. Our Board has exercised considerable effort over the past few years to restrain costs. The percentage in- creases in our budget in both 1981 and 1982 have been among the lowest in the Metro area. Increases in operating costs per pupil have similarly been held at a relatively low level for the past several years. Yet our taxpayers continue to be fac- ed with dramatic increases, thus unfairly subsidizing those in other parts of the province. oe — Fash Hoyal wtf slimming special! hi e -- Chri . | Mr. Minister, we believe the present situation to be completely unacceptable. We, therefore, request that you take immediate action to correct the situation and, in particular, that you pro- vide special dispensation for our homeowners in 1982. We anxiously await your favourable reply. (Mrs.) Chairman North Van School Board Marg. Jessup one-hour body treatments for the price of © $200° * resstootess fin Tirieass & elastic thy e ciddis shaplmess & sup poott too hard too exercise oueeS eo firrns & Joon eof a bitpos @ tiotvess Nghtens cat> WETS Lotto ks B& withieot Cover Serveste op oll A " 7 N Sthamda - ye y — ¥ Whrates awit 926-6214 Soncemed citizen retumed tater in the day to find out it we bad attended to the skustion, and we were happy to report tw resulta of the Investigation.” CAPILANO COLLEGE 2066 Purcell Way North Vancouver Up the Hill from the Coach House