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WITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1988, PAGE 3 Regionbtudget is approved despite Oshaw on fBy Mike Johnston Despite opposition by ail but oeofOshawa's regional repres- entatives, Durham Region council *approved a 1988 operating budget of $225 million last Wednesday. 0f. that amount, $48.9 million ~wl ecollected in taxes from the iregion's eight municipalities. Whitby taxpayers will see the region. portion of their tax bill inïcrease by 6.7 per cent. Meanwhile Oshawa residents wil *sethe highest increase, 11.8 per cent, because of. differences i equalization. In 'dollars, the tax bill will 'inraefrom $318.23 to $337.95 per .$1,000 of assessment in Whitby. Whitby taxpayers came in be- low -the region average of 7.3 per cent. Ail-but one of Oshawa's il region councillors voted against the budget. "This budget is a disaster. It's so deep into taxpayers' pockets, you can feel your shoes," said Oshawa Mayor Allan Pilkey. "The Region had a strong ? situation on the revenue side. It could have brought in a sensible i budget," he said.* lFinance chairman and Ajax cp uncillor Jim Witty responded tat.,the 'majority- of regional coTuncil voted to keep the increase inder eight per cent. Witty said assessment- differ- bfices account for the extreme fluctuation. in taxes across the region. Pilkey then attempted to have council remove $1 million from the- waste disposai rserve fund. .."e said the money could be recovered through payments from Metro Toronto for use of the Brock Westdump site. "I guess what is wrong with this budget is that thi.- is the wrong year," said Whitby councillor Tom Edwards in objection to Pilkey's motion. But Pilkey said taking out the $rmillion would decrease, the impact on Oshawa taxpayers by 2.4 per cent. TÉat motion was defeated by a ra opposition vote of 17-10, with Irv H arreli the only, Oshawa councillor to' vote against the motion. But in approving the -budget, council agreed to use the' -$1 million in, the reserve '-fund "if Metro Toronto does not approve the tipping fée rebate for Durham Region. Metro is still to decide *whether or not to approve a $28 a ,tonne rebate to Durham Region.- for disposai of garbage at the Brock West landfill site. Funding t'O> hire more polie staff Under the Durham Region budget approved hast week, Durham Regional Police and the social services departmnent will both receive hefty increases in their budgets. The Region has also set aside nmoney for a 911 systemi and a waste disposai site. The police budget will increase .Yrom $27,001,320 in 1987 to 030,468,649 in 1988. Besides additional equipment, the force will hire 42 more staff including five new constables for Whitby. The social services budget wil increase from $7,998,171 in 1987 to $10,253,833 in 1988. The department will hire an additional 67 staff members, the majority of them nurses for the region's three nursing homes. Also included in this year's budget is $700,006 towards the coet of a 911 systemi for Durham. But finance chairman Jim Witty informed coundil that if Durham does not receive the rebate for garbage from Metro Toronto, that $700,000 will be taken fromn 911 this year and used towards other programs in SEE PAGE 26 R.A. SENNETT was oneC of five sehools in Whitby to clean streets and yards as part of the Pitch-In campaign May 2 to 8, held province-wide, with bags from Sunoco Inc., co-sponsor of the annual dlean-up along wilth the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and the Ministry of Environment. Sennett students shown with their haul are, from left, Shawn Downey, Mike Short, Tyler Shepherd, Michael Jamieson, Brandy Harwood, Tina Williams, Mike Reijnen, Becky Black, Daniel Han, Melissa Rai, Norman Black, Cindy Woodrow, Shawn Geldart, Peter Son and Michael Maharaj. Free Press photo rURNACIE FINANCING FOR ONLY ~.js32 PER MONTH INCLUDES: *Absolutely no interest * Installation and Taxes %Y I 1 jso~ I iui Now At, Special Saviugs Catch the excitement! Visit Pioneer Interiors during our special dining roomn Sale. Choose from our fine collection of mahogany, cherry, oak & pine suites now on sale. Our past part of your future. PONEER' Making the legacy of 507 Brock. Street North, Whitby 686-1123 (3 blocks nort;h of Hwy. 2) Hours: Mon. - Wed. 10-6, Thurs. & Fi. 10-9, Sat. 10-5:30 Also iMisisaga Solid Ok Treasured Dining Heirlocms Zq 1