MUNICIPALLY speak-
ing we once were one
on the North Shore.
We asked North
Vancouver candidates
to mull the amalgama-
tion question. Here are
the responses received
to press time:

North Vancouver City can-
didate Mayor Jack Loucks:
I do not support amalgama-
tion since City taxpayers
would not benefit. Due to
our significant industrial and
conmmercial tax base, resi-
dents-have the lowest taxes
on the North Shore, and one
of the lowest in the GVRD.
Through careful budgeting
the City has accumulated
reserve
funds in
excess of
.. $30 million, -
which will
almost dou-
ble when
_ the Lower ©
Lonsdale
- lands are
marketed.
Our’ ‘compact geographical
aréa ‘results in reduced. costs
: for the Construction and
‘maintenance of road and util-

ity systems. Under amalgama-

“don, City taxes and reserves:
- would be used to support the
+» District, to the detriment of
City residents.
‘At the same time, we recog-
nize the benefit-of cost sav-
-. ings through shared services,
‘and gladly participate in
_ Shared emergency, policing,
“recreation functions, to name
“only a few. -

North Vancouver City can- .

didate Coun. Stella Jo
Dean: The City is in a
"healthy financial state with a
tax sale land reserve of over
$30. million, the interest from
“which, over $2 million a year,
is spent on improving and
upgrading capital projects.
ur tax rates are ‘among the
~ lowest in the GVRD. Ona
‘house with a market value of
$300,000, a city owner pays

November 16

$889 while a District owner
pays $1,090,

The City has a solid infra-
structure base. The Ciry is
only five square miles and can
be more efficiently serviced

than a wide-spread District of

North Vancouver. The City is
small enough that area repre-
sentation is not compro-
mised.

North Vancouver City can-
didate Coun. Darrell
Mussatto: | am not at pre-
sent in favor of the amalga-
mation of the two North
Vancouvers., While the nwo
municipalities already share
very large municipal services
such as policing, disaster
planning and recreation, the
city is more financially secure
due in part to our almost $30
million Tax Sale Land Fund.
Only the interest derived
from this fund is expended -
and helps to keep the City’s
municipal tax rate much
lower than the District’s and
one of the lowest in the
region.

I can never understand why
several separate bodies pro-

” viding similar products or

services is seen as healthy
competition in the private
sector, but wasteful duplica-
tion in the public sector.

North Vancouver City
didate Diarmui-} Dick
O'Dea: I support amalgama-

can-

_tion because in my view

North Vancouver is one com-
munity and all of its residents
deserve the opportunity to
participate fully in all local
government policy decisions.
City residents care about
issues that impact on Cates
Park and District residents
care about the re-develop-
ment of Lower Lonsdale.
The solid, stable finances of
the City must be preserved.
No one should lose their jobs

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North Vancouver City can-
didate Jim Ramsay: The

City and District, although
geographically contiguous,
have different focuses. The
City, a mature community
with its infrastructure largely
in place, faces density and
redevelopment issues. The
District deals with raw land
development and provision of
services questions,

TE would not support amaiga-
mation, unless it could be
proven thar there would be
significant cose economies by
amalgamating services and
City residents would not .
incur rax increases as a result.

~ Gisela Rasmussen, 44
President, Facial Fitness Centres

nr |

se

ey Tish s

North Vancouver City can-"
didate Coun. Barbara -
Perrault: I am not in favor of
amalgamation. North
Vancouver City was fourth
lowest for overall municipal
taxes and utility costs in a
recent comparison of tax,

rates done-by. the Greate?

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"Vancouver Regional District,

The 1996 city rate is 24% less
than the District of North
Vancouver. This is largely
because we are a small cost-
effectively run community,
Our “tax sale land fund”
helps us provide many ser-
vices at a much cheaper rate.
Presently, we share many ser-
vices with the district and this
is working very well. Other
municipalities in Canada that
have undergone amalgama-
tion recently report that this
has not resulted in lower
costs, As well, they report
that smalier communities
tend to get swallowed up.
Unless there was equal bene-
fit for both communities, |
do not favor amalgamation.

NORTH SHORE AUTOS se

$42.8 million tuas spent on auto mainteniance and repairs
on the Norsk Shove last year - ;

. Ta reach this lucrative market, place Jour ads
where the readership is.”

North Vancouver City can-
didate Tangee Gunderson: I
really think things should stay
the same for now. Maybe ir.

See Incumbents page 18

‘Inaccessible.

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