The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PAGE 2, WEDNßSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982, WHITB-Y FREE PRESS Durham may impose a 12% tax hike Property owners are facing a 12 per cent hike in the taxes levied by the Region of Durham in 1982. This increase will be on top of the already ap- proved 4.5 per cent tax increase levied by the Town of Whitby and the yet to be announced in- creases that will be im- posed by the region's two boards of education. At its meeting last Wednesday, Durham Regional Council set its 1982 budget guidelines which, if met, will pro- duce an average impact on the property tax- payer of 12 per cent. Most regional depart- ments will only be allowed a three per cent increase in budget with the exceptions of the MARCH 4TH WATCH FOR OUR SUPER OPENING SPECIALS Open 7 Days a Week • Deli Counter • Fruit • Vegs * Green Plants and Flowers And for your convenience we carry milk, bread, and various other staples. Hwy. 12 north of Rossland south of Taunton social services depart- ment, the Children's Aid Society and the Durham Regional Health Unit which will be allowed eight per cent. The other exception will be the Durham Regional Police Comm- ission which will be allowed a 12 per cent budget increase. The guidelines, how- ever, will still produce a net expenditure in- crease of 12.9 per cent in 1982. (Net expenditures come from the revenues, raised directly from the property taxpayer. The region also accrues revenue from user fees, lot levies and provincial government grants.) Durham Region is. aiming to raise $25.7 million from the proper- ty taxpayer in 1982. In 1981, the region raised $22.3 million from the taxpayer. The region's total expenditures are expected to reach $77 million this year, $8.25 million over 1981, a 12.2 per cent increase. According to council's finance committee chairman, Councillor John Aker (Oshawa), the region simply can- not raise taxes more than 12 per cent in 1982. "That's going to be the maximum we'll be able to justify," Aker told council. "I would think that 14 per cent (in tax hikes) in any muni- cipality would be diffi- cult to sell." Any budget that means a greater than 12 per cent increase in taxes "won't look like a winner," he added., Aker told council that those programs and departments that are 100 per. cent regionally funded will .be kept to the guidelines but it will be hard to control those areas that are support- ed through a cost shar- ing agreement with the provincial government. "Everybody we're responsible for locks in at three per cent," he said. While thesregion is being more generous with the social services department, the Child- ren's Aid Society and the Durhaii Regional Health Unit, Aker said that their budgets 'can'tgo any higher." The councillor said that the social services department is having "difficulty in meeting their obligations." With these exceptions and that of the police commission, it is imper- ative that the region keep to within the guide- lines. "We have to meet the guidelines," Aker said speculating that no member of council is going to propose new expenditures that require tax hikes.' "I don't think anyone here is that foolish," he said. Besides which, "I would not give any thought to any upward flow." Despite the tough budget provisions, Aker said that the region will not lay off staff but may reduce staff through at- trition., "I don't think we've ever laid off anybody as the result of a budget," he said. "We're not look- ing at any lay offs." Aker said that senior staff "would look at other things before lay offs." "What we're looking at is attrition," he con- tinued. "I don't think we're going to lay off anyone and I don't think we're going to hire any- one either." Aftér the meeting, Aker said that it is possi- ble that the current level 0f service given by the region will drop this year .because of the budgetguidelines. . "There will be abso- lutely no increase in any services," he said, "it's going to mean a slight decrease in some ser- vices." However, he "stuck to his guns" for a 12 per cent increase. "That 12 per cent is going to be tough enough to sell and I don't think anyone will be able to sell more."' If this 12 per cent average is applied to the Town of Whitby it- will, add another 4.4 mills to the mill rate. This means taxes on a home assessed at $5,000 will be charged $22 more in 1982. However, senior town officials believe that Whitby's share of the regional levy will in- crease because of assessment growth. This will also mean a slightly higher tax in- crease on all residents. Regional departments will now have to prepare their budgets for sub- mission to the finance committee which will present the final budget document and recomm- endations to regional council on March 17. A iai s i*zed The Ontario Humane Society siezed a number De Ville of animals from a Braw- ley Road farm last Fri- day morning. According to the Durham Regional Po- lice Force, O.H.S. In- spector Tom Coghill had a warrant to enter the premises and discover- ed that the animals had no food or water. Three dogs, which police described not only as vicious but as "thin and scared" were found in the house-and taken to the society's Thickson Road North shelter. The farm's barn was also searched and seven pigs, two goats and three horses were taken to the society's farm in Newmarket. The owner of the pro- perty, Harry Thornley, was not home at the time. A police spokesman said that no charges had been laid. Shelter entered Thieves made off with $30 in coins last Sunday after breaking into the Ontario Humane Society's Thickson Road North Shelter. According to a spokes- man for the Durham Regional Police Force, the thieves-entered the building through the north-east window and proceeded through the kitchen area. Police also reported that a door frame suf- fered $152 damage as a result of the break-in. A lot of people cali life "The Survival of the Fittest". You know, a lot of people are right. COMER19 PRI1T11 21 H Rý'ODA E, . J XSOPN L John Aker RI 'w lir Mr