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PAGE 6p HIB FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, APRIIa 18, 191k) j à jj à jPublisher Production Manager VOUC 0FTHECOU TY OWN131 Brook Street North, The only Whîtby newspaper independently owned and operated by UNO BoS20 2Witb , Ca ont.lRgsrtin#55 L % ïe J Whitby residents for Whitby residents.LN5S2dClsPoaiRgtrInO3l Durham Region, Ilke the Town of Whitby, has faund that debentures are almost unavoidable as a financing alternative when faced with high costs, tao littie revenue and taxpayers fed up with tax increases. The Durham Regian budget that wili be presented before counicil this week proposes an average 12 per cent tax hike region-wide, shouid the budget be adapted. The new Pickering police station wilI be buift at a cost of $5.1 -million, with $3.1 -million of that amount ta corne, if availabie, from the Region's speciai levy fund over the next three years. If its not ln the special reserve fund, used by the Region ta save for major projects, the finance committee has recommnended debenture financ- ing of $4.6-million for the projeot. In recent years, debenture had become a bad word and 'pay-as-you-go' was the preferred fashion as the Region aimed, and still aimis. toward debt-free status In the early 190s. ln Whitby, council members, some with reluctance, iast year accepted clebentures as the only Unavoidable? way ta way ta erect a much-needed roc facility. In bath cases, the cost of providing much-needed services has exceeded the abiiity of the municipalities ta pay without a huge tax increase that wouid foment even more dissatisfaction over taxes. The Region is still attempting ta caver casts, but consider this: this year's special levy fund wili likely include $1 .8-million for anticipated additionai costs related ta general weftare assistance. There was no such provision in the special f und last year - the change, undeniabiy, the resuit af uncontrollable factors. Another is pay equity, for which $450,000 has been set aside in the reserve f und for 1990. Yet this year's reserve fund wIii ikely Include $1 .15- million toward the cost of the new regionai headquarters buildings. That funding, recammended, along with pro- vision for a waste disposai site, by Region staff some years ago, had been thon postponed by council In favor of other projeots. Other expenditures are expected - roads, waste disposai, homes for the aged -almost annual fixtures as the Region attempts to update services. And funding for other prajeots, not Included ln the reserve fund, cames from other sources. Lot Ievy charges and revenue from water and sewer user rates wili heip pay for $865,000 worth of computer equipment. Pay-as-you-go remains the preferred method, and we hope debentures wiIl remain the final alternative as they involve real costs, athough less evident ta the average taxpayer. But Rt may take some astute financial planning by the Regian and Tawn, or even more painful tax increases, to avoid debenture financing in the face of mounting costs for numneraus projeots on the horizon. ........ ............................... Former regional councillo0r cit es bracai imngement To the edfitor During the 12 years I served on Durham Region council I found many policies were rnade by staff and not by couneil. The damaging outcomne of tbis now is that we have land control and taxation in the hands of bureaucrats. After 15 years of this, we have fewer private jobs and higher welfare coots. Farmers and city By Bene Soetens Ontario iding MP 'We believe in t/w Province ofNew Brunswick that Meech Lake lias taken on a symbolie importance particularly in Quebec which goes far beyond its words and phrases and Meech Lake it8elf That symbolic importance lias become so pronounoed and so critical to thw future of t/w Province of Quebec t/uit it hma been acoepted virtually witliout question by us and many Canadians t/aat Meech Lake should not be touched as it currently is constituteat And t/uti why we have proposed t/isprooess whieh does not subtract from Meech Lake, doe not re.open Meech Lake but w/dch adds to the substantial aoeomplis/&ment w/iich t/w Meech Lake Accord represents. " The above quote cornes from Frank MeKenna, Premier of the Province of New Brunswick, at the flrst meeting of the Special Committee of the House of Commons studying the compamion resolution to the Meech Lake Accord. Athough Premier McKenna beieves that there must be amnendnxents added to Meech through a companion resolution, he assured conirittee membes of bis belief that Meech Lake, as it stands, will be a postive step for Canada. lei addition, four constitutional experts appeared before the commnittee. These experts were adamant that Meech must be passed and felt that the political uncertainty that is being created could drive foreign investors away. They also praised Premier MeKenna for bis constructive efforts to bridge the Meech impasse. It is my belief that the Meech Lake Constitutional Accord will strengthen Canada by reinforcing the principles of federalism. Simultaneously, Meech Lake will open up the process of' Constitutional development, allowing Canada to remain flexible to future social, technological and political realities. However, no constitution or accord is perfect. The fact that Mr,. Mulroney has called on the government to form a Special Committee of the House of Commons to study the companion resolution to, the Meech Lake Accord demonstrates that this government is willing ta, be flexible, even though the original Accord had previously received approval by aIl ten provinces. If you would like a copy of the companion resolution or Meech Lake, please contact my constituency office at 686-0432. LETTERS The Whitby Free Press welcomes letters to the Editor on any subject of conicern to our readers. Letters should be brief and to the point - rarely more than 300 words. Ail letters must be accompanied by the name, address and phone nuinber of the writer; however, on request, your name may be withheld from publication if we agree that there is a valid reason. The paper reserves the right to reject or edit ail letters. Send to: The Editor, Whitby Free Press, Box 206, Whitby, Ontario LiN 5S1 or drop through pur ma ilsio t at 131 Brock St. N. People aIike are losing out daily because of this poor type of government management. Now the powers of Durham Region p lan a niulti-miluion-dollar headquarters building - more To the. editor. On behalf of the Toronto & District Chapter of The idney Foundation of Canada, I would like ta thank you for your support during our recently completed March campaign. Although final figures are flot in, we are well on oeir way ta reaching aur goal of $350,000 and more, thanks in part ta your efforts and assstance in promoting our campaign. Ail funds raised wqill go ta staff and higher taxes. Four years ago, the planning directar was advised by committee ta seek affordability in land and housing. Instoad of affordable housing, we were igiven support medical research inta, kçidney disease, patient services and public education progrars. Although the fight against idney disease isn't over yet, we are winning, and with new breakthroughs in medical research, a cure is witbin reach. Thank you again and I look forward ta your continued support with The Kidney Foundation's activities. Sinoerely, Jonathan Nqyek >onuunicatiofls Coordinator "non-profit" housing which now -costs us millions each year in subsidy. "Non-profit housfing is now becoming the biggest pork-barrel in Durham Region. Pity the taxpayer. Further, instead of affordable lots, we now have lot prices which have increased'more li the last two years more than in the prvos25 years. The present planig rinciples are a complete failure. O>ur bigh cost duplicata planning department at Durham is doing a great service to the large development compamies. However, many familles, now and in the future, wiil be robbed ta satisfy these few; exploitera. If this improper government continues, we will soon ail be in debt ta the foreign money lenders, personal and government, D. W. Wilson Oshawa Ontario Land & Tax Réfoe'n msociation Mareh kidney campaign nears goal of $350,OOO