A6 - Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1981 - North Shore News GE editorial page : Ability to pay We've said it before and we'll say it again: the only just basis for taxation is ability to pay. That’s the basis for income tax, sales tax and virtually all other taxes. The more you spend, the higher the tax. Fair enough. The single exception is property tax. Because of the crazy upward leap in property values during 1980 many North Shore homeowners have been bled white by this year’s tax bills — without having an extra cent of income with which to meet assessment increases sometimes nudging 100%. That's why the Union of B.C. Municipalities is pressing Education Minister Brian Smith for the early release of the Fleming Report on B.C. school financing — the chief contributor to June's horrendous tax hikes. The UBCM wants to study the report in detail before 1982 assessment levels and school tax millrates are set. In ordering the report the minister has, in effect, acknowledged the injustice of tying school taxes to the vagaries of the real estate market. A major increase in the paper value of a home whose owner has no wish to sell it bumps up the tax proportionately under the present system, but doesn’t add a single dollar to his ability to pay. Since the school system is ultimately controlled by the province, a fairer system might be to finance it entirely from increased provincial income tax or sales tax. The total bill wouldn’t be any more palatable but at least it would be equitably distributed. Whatever the answer, it HAS to be better than last year’s. For Mr. Smith and his colleagues too many homeowner votes are at stake. Police humanity That mannequin in policewoman's uniform, seated on a biffy reading The News in the window of West Van's police HQ last Sunday, hasn't amused the police brass. But hundreds of visitors to Ambleside Park got a harmless laugh from it — plus the healthy message that West Van's finest are human beings, too. We hope this public relations bonus will persuade Chief Hornell to temper discipline with mercy! sunday news narth shore news 1139 Lonsdale Ave North Vancouver. BC V7M 2H4 (604) 985-2131 ADVERTISING: news 980-0511 (LASSIE IED 985-2131 986-6222 CURCUL A TIOON 966 1337 Publisher fetes Sern h Associate Publisher Robert Gahan Managing Editor Andy Fraser Editor in-Chiet Noel Wright News E ditor Cows bhoya Advertising Director fori Coett hweall Sports E dittor Paattu hb baat Goneral Manage: Croative Administration Otrector thercrye } ithaae Torry botanic ts Production Director Photography Heh fotOnetanuse bse ve TP Cem ate oe Accounting Supervise: Circulation Otrector Pure Nao or Barbara Keon tira A fins faye Med cac North Shore News fonnschect nO ae rae beep cere ese re gb ewe reaper caret pesenbfier dg der Coe tee toabe HEC ba ME bane eagge ag ek Wt thse bin ene Oe AL? tpt at rb er tac EWM de bay are Spear dery to PM ee TF wba eee boo ere bre erye ated teed Pout feoitent ot © wey Le ry Wee Nee tt rere eee el tT ba Maal Phe gest tice Nea foes Fra ea Subaecciptions $20 per year Entire contents All rights reeo ved YOR) North Shove tree Preas Ltd Ne NG ot vet eter, . tee ES ad pee tie ow? oe eee oT Teme ag revel Vth ge 72 | Le 2 nATHON NSParg Wodnenvey %/ ' 0 Suerday