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ÔlNACft April 22, 2005 BOWMANVILLE LIBRARY 163 Church Street 1.1.05ac Bowmanville, Ont. L1C 1P7 i.uv GST Included Wednesday April 20, 2005 Serving Kendal, Kirby, Leskard. Newcastle, Newtonville, Orono, Starkville and Tyrone since Ï937 increase over next four years The net increase in this den on the residential tax- year's Region of Durham payer, he said. The new ambu- budget is 5.82 per cent. lance station slated for This increase represents an Courtice is also a net benefit , t T/-x mi in ip. 1- additional tax burden of $98 "When you compare ; who gets what... Clarington is the big winner . this year" --May or John Mutton on the average home, with a $250,000 current current value assessment. The 2005 budget for the Region of Durham Durham was approved approved by councillors at last week Wed- nesday ' s Regional L -- -- Council Meeting. "There is value in this increase," Councillor Charlie Trim stated at Clarington's council meeting on Monday evening. There was money for roads, conservation authorities, authorities, police, long term care facilities, emergency medical service, says Trim. The total net property tax requirements for the General Purpose Budget comes to $329 million, which is a $14.2 million increase over last year. "When you compare who gets what, overwhelmingly, Clarington is the big winner this year," stated Mayor John Mutton, at Monday's council meeting. The new water pollution control control plant being built in Courtice will allow for industrial industrial growth in Clarington, which will relieve the tax bur- to the munici pality, accord ing to the Mayor, While the. budget was adopted as presented presented by the finance committee, committee, that wasn't done before several amendments to the budget were introduced, introduced, debated and ultimately rejected. Much of the debate was focused around the Health and Social Services budget. The Medical Officer of Health sought to increase his department's staff by 22, to address areas in the Health and Services Department that are not in compliance with provincial standards. Incidents of female lung cancer, heart and circulatory disease, stroke, respiratory disease, are higher in Durham than the provincial average. The same is true for male stroke, respiratory disease and prostate cancer. The net cost of the additional additional staff for the Health department would have been approximately $300,000 this year. Funding was provided in this year's Health Department budget for 15 new staff positions, positions, to try and address the areas where the Region is lagging lagging in provincial compliance. This in spite of the fact that the Provincial Ministry of Health has increased funding to health departments across the province, in light of the Walkcrton incident and the Sars outbreak. Where the province was formerly funding certain staff positions on a 50 per cent basis, and the municipality municipality paying the other 50 per cent, they have increased their portion to 55 per cent this year, with the intent to raise their level ol tunding tunding to 75 per cent by the year 2007. While the increased BUDGET see page 3 Allison S'triedhSr hand at carding wool at Clarke Museum's Pioneer Days, last week Saturday. Police ask for help Fatal motor vehicle collision - Clarington i _ i 1 mpmhp.rs of tflC The Durham Regional Police Service . Traffic Services Branch is investigating investigating a fatal collision that claimed the life of a 51-year- old man in Clarington last night. On Monday, April 18th, 2005, at approximately 8:35 p.m., Durham Regional Police were called to the intersection of King Street and Mcarns Avenue in Bowmanville regarding a two-vehicle collision. collision. Two vehicles, a red Pontiac car and a Harley Davidson motorcycle had collided, injuring both drivers. drivers. The driver of the motorcycle motorcycle was taken by .ambulance .ambulance to Lakeridge Health Bowmanville and later airlifted airlifted to St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, flic driver of the motorcycle succumbed succumbed to his injuries. The deceased is identified as Milton F ice, age 51, of Warren Avenue in Oshawa. The driver of the red Pontiac sustained minor injuries. The highway was closed for several hours while members of the Collision Investigation Unit collected evidence. Weather and road conditions were favourable at the time of the accident. Anyone with information regarding this incident, who has not already talked to police, is asked to contact Detective Constable Ken- nalcy at 905-579-1520 ext. 5256. Anonymous calls can be made to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222- 8477.