Pay raie for MP's outspoken s.choo'l board's style not about. to vice chir~Fpag . n g e page Senor'-entre Wityteam earty alsotnumphs Oýpage3 ifBostonpage13 *Council TOWNCOUNI ..i INEIT Co otrover.syover py pcket - By John Dujay Fireworks erupted over a dis- cussion about Town councillors' pay during a Town operations committee meeting Mionday nght. At issue la the provision for councillors to take as much as $2,000 in lieu of benefits if the councillor decides to forgo bene- fits. Councilors get paid $14,648 in regular salary, according to treasurer AI Claringbold. Former regional council candi- date Jim Priest raised the issue with counciflors during the meet- ing. "Would this council be wiling te give up the $2,000 in benefita7' he asked. "It's bard for taxpayers te swallow." However, committee chair and east ward councillor Dennis Fox refuted his commenta, saying, "The only probleni that exdsts is in your mind." Fox said that many ratepayers are actually surprised at the low salary of Whitby* counicillors especially compared to salaries of council- lors in Toronto. West ward councillor Judi Longfield also defended the prac- tioe, saying thatconior have not seen -ny increase in pay dur- ing the ' ast two'terms and have even seen a smal dceae But Priest stuck to bis criginal contention. "1 think you should take the benefits (instead of the cash)," he said. He said that most councillors have benefits with their fuli-time jobs and teý charge' the taxpayer for something they alredy hve is ,wrong. "Wywould you.b. taing cash- in lieu of beneflits you already have?" Priest also noted that one- third of a councillor's salary is tax-free. Priest called the- practice "urjustified and repugnant." But Whitby Mayor Tom- Edwards said that it is flot up te local council to change the assess- ment method. Instead,1 he said, "If you want t6 change it, you get the province of Ontario to, change it." Fox admitted hie would like te see the allowance removed. "'I can't write off anything because of that one-third allowanoe." 1At the end of the meeting, as councillors were walking eut, foritier mayoral candidate Pat Perkins blasted the councillor, SEE PAGE 2 aims to, avoid increlase in taxes Service cuts Iikely, says budget chief By Mike Kowalski Town.r council will attempt te avi asing-taxes despite a much larger than anticipated eut in provincial funding this year. "I think' we will do everything possible to avoid atax increase" ,,promised.-northward -,counçillor and budget chief Don Mitchell as ,Whltby ýoffiiaIs begin .considering. the ramifications of last'.moônths- surprise Christmas présent from Queen's Park." "If they (governnient) don't meus around with development charges, I think there will be probably be se rvice reductions,. that'a my inclination," said Mitchell of the best way of cop ing- with -a, *$1.1-mili!on ceut 'in transfer paymeçnts, - more thandouble what the -Town had expected. Based on , last November's economic statement by Finance Minister Ernie Eves, local officiaIs were anticipating a 20 -per cent funding chop, about $600,000,' in 1996. But shortly 'before the' year ended, the Town was informed that the actiùal amount will, be $1.2 million, down from 1995's $2.1 million. If passed on te homeowners, it would mean a tax hike of about $30 per household in INtby. Mitchell said council has flot yet fonnally discussed the cuta. Ho expects Town, staff wifl.soon be briefing the elected officiaIs on the implications. "Staff knows the numbers we want te end up with,"' said Mitchell. "J, for one, don't go in and- tell the works department or the recreation department how te save money." While he favours reducing services and cutting progmn, Mitchell does flot know if his way of thinkcing will prevail., SEE PAGE 3 2 I WeveMoved See pg