A7 - Wednesday, December 17, 1980 - North Shore News GE mailbox A School tax sinner not Victoria Dear Editor: Your article of Wed-. nesday December 3 in- dicates that your knowledge of school financing is ina- complete. Although you use the case of the poor old age pensioner, you ignore the fact that this pensioner will be receiving a Home Owner Grant of $630 each year to offset the high school taxes. In West Vancouver with a mill rate of 52.43 any pensioner owning a home of assessed value less than $83,000 pays no school taxes in 1980. Although the Consumer Price Index has increased by 115% in the past ten years as you claim, the Home Owner Grant applied to ease school taxes in British Columbia has increased by more than 300% In 1979 the Provincial Government took over the whole cost of operating the community colleges and now pays the ten million dollar cost of Capilano College which was previously shared by the local taxpayer in North and West Vancouver. One major item leading to recent excessive increases in school costs was the removal of the referendum which had previously been required when budgets exceeded more than 110% of the basic education program. North Vancouver and West Vancouver both spend more than 120% of the basic program while the provincial average is 112% The local taxpayer pays for everything in excess of the basic education p Another act of ‘the NDP government which caused huge increases in the ad- ministrative costs was the deletion of the requirement for taxpayer approval for salary increases above a set The aim of the present method of school financing is to spread the cost of education evenly over the province so that children in the poorer districts may receive a sound education. In these circumstances the wealthy districts pay more. In 1979 the total spent on public education in British Columbia was $1.15 billion. Of this sum the Provincial Government paid directly 36.7% and as Home Owner Grant 15.4% for a total of 52.1%. The single family and other homeowners paid 19.8% with the remaining . 28% paid by commercial and industrial property. The Provincial Govern- — ment also now pays several million dollars towards the Operation of independent schools for, as the enrolment in the public school system: decreases, the enrolment in the independent schools is imcreasing by leaps and bounds. If as you suggest the Provincial Government is to increase its contribution to - public education, from where are the funds to be obtained? Are you in favour WV citizens support downzoning Dear Editor: I have followed your fine editorial support given at important times in the matter of recently proposed zoning amendments in West Vancouver's apartment area. 1 share the disap- pointment and frustration which I believe the majority of West Vancouver citizens feel because of the defeat of the amendment at a council meeting when, un- fortunately, all members could not be present. lt would be a shame if all the ume, effort and moncy West Van council ‘timid’ Dear Editor: I really find it hard to believe that OUR council could have come to the rash decision it did two wectks ago Monday night. That something so important could be decided when one — any one of the council is away, makes no sense at all. Surely there should be a vote “in absentia”: I fear that some of our council behaved lke timid schoolboys before the wrath of our awesome = retired “Bull”. He roared, and thcy jumped They probably won't notice — whey will be too busy helping the developers count ther shekel into their golden purses As for the restof us, we can “look to the mountains’ , lf we can see them through the concrete jungic, and resuluung smog that) would surround us! DINING LOUNGE WEST VANCOUVERS WONG'S WOK, LEMKE 926-7371 ORDER IN CHINESE spent in leading up to the December 1, meeting should © be to no avail in limiting further highrise building. I am one of the many neighbours in the vicinity of potential development sites who were invited to make submissions to the most recent public hearing. There was an overwhelming reponse in favour of re- zoning and yet our voice was substantially disregarded in the negative voting in council. 1 belhheve that West Vancouver citizens In “Charity begins at home”. but whose “Home” 1s it to be? Joyce M. Turner West Vancouver NOT TOOLATE FOR X-MAS PARTIES ere — hood cooked If cut HOUT FLO ce Hot S| we’ least t SAMURAI. JAPANESE VILLAGE Steak House CHNING LO UN CE days iro 83 Chesterfield Ava. NV 986-1155 cone HOCK fram: Seapus) Open ? nT an par general, if given the op- portunity to speak out through a poll or by some other means, would confirm our support for a zoning amendment by-law to avoid excessive density with all the problems that go with it. 1 can think of no more compelling reason to reconsider controlling future development in the apart- ment area than the fact that it is the majority wish of the community. Walter L. Kelsey West Vancouver ‘further taxation? Bducation already takes up more than 23% of the $54 Billion Provincial budget and together with Health and Human Resources adds up to more than 65% of the total budget. Where will you cut to find the additiona] funds for education? Do we _ close hospitals? Or do we throw dry or blow dry. widows, orphans and the aged into the streets? One must remember that the public purse is not a bot- tomless pit and that any government can only pay out what it takes in as taxes. Please, Mr. Wright, obtain all of the available facts before attacking one level of government for the sins of another. Ernie Sarsfield North Vancouver (While agreeing that “the public pugse is not a bot- tomiess pit”, it is suggested that education, hospitals and welfare remain higher priorities than huge and costly political monuments such as the planned B.C. Place in Vancouver — Ed.) We Cu? The natural cut follows the fiow of the hair and is cut exactly as the hair naturally falls Completely wash and wear Comb and tet A GIFT JUST FOR YOU THIS AD WORTH? 5 FIRST VISIT EXPIRES DEC. 24 — ONE PER PERSON By appointment 984.9817 If no answer call 985-8654 FREE PARKING-WE VALIDATE YOUR TICKET We CURL Permacun is a new PH controlled perm combined with a natural cut to create an ex- citing new look you just wash and wear No setting or biow drying We SUPERCUTTERS HIS-N-HER NATURAL HAIR DESIGNS IN THE INTERNATIONAL PLAZA HOTEL CORNER MARINE DR AND CAPILANO RO OPEN Sun 9am 1pm Thurs &Frn 9am 7pm Mon . Tues Wed. Sat Qam 6pm Great Christmas Gift ideas for Women! Gentiemen: Just bring her size you ll realize thal you were wise shopping for ber Att eminetia Complimentary gift wrapping The store with the wide selection Open ’till 9 every night til Christmas! Westiynn Mali OAS TOTS Lanshowne Mall 277 TSO