covers the full amount of the School Taxes plus a portion of the General Taxes,
_and this was the basis of my concern. In Port Coquitlam, approximately 24% of -_
our properties would experience an increase in taxation if School Taxes and the”
Home-owner Grants were removed. This increase would be anywhere from $1.00 to
$100.00 or more on some of the iower value properties. The present system of
Grants, therefore, does have an equalizing effect on various classes of property.
The McMath Report does not provide any financial data pointing out the impact of
their proposed changes on the Property Tax. Their recommendation for the
Government paying 75% of the School Cost is not backed up by any factual data.
They state on Page 100 of the Report, (paragraph 3.52) that they were not able

to have a study completed on financing Education and they can only point out -

the direction which their philosophy indicates without evidence to support

their conclusion. In actual fact, there is very little information in Chapter

3 that would lead anyone to the conclusion that a figure of 75% is supportable.
If the present method of financing Education, along with the Home-owner Grant
structure is maintained, 75% is probably more Supportable than having the
Province pay 100% as it does retain some financial responsibility locally which
entitles us to some measure of local autonomy. If the Province takes over 100%
of School financing, then it is conceivable that they would be entitled to 100%
of the control of Education.

The original resolution of Council is as follows:

"That the following recommendation set forth in the preliminary report

of the Commission of Inquiry on Property Assessment and Taxation, July 30th,
1976, numbered R-1 and appearing on Page 101, Paragraph 3.54 of the Report,
be endorsed:

‘We believe that the Provincial Government should consider committing itself
publicly to paying 75% of the current and capital costs of the Public School
System as a whole in British Columbia within a period of 5 years. Equalization
grants would continue to be needed so that the share paid by the Provincial
Government would continue to vary sustantially from School District to

School District's;

AND THAT the Clerk be instructed to so notify the Minister of Municipal
Affairs."

In the context of the whole McMath Report, this would be an appropriate resolution
of Council. Council may wish to add an addendum urging the Provincial Government -
to retain the present system of Home-owner Grants or a similar system of Tax Credit.

to Residential properties. .

2. Conferences

I have received information from two conferences which City employees generally
attend; first is the Building Inspectors' Conference which will be held this year
in Vancouver, May llth to 13th. Our Chief Building Inspector, Nick Chernoff,
generally attends this conference and I would recommend that he be permitted to
attend and that his expenses be paid.

The second is the. annual Municipal Officers' Conference which will be held this’

year at Fairmont Hot Springs from May 3lst to June 3rd. This Conference is attended
by members of the Department of Municipal Affairs who cover current legislation and

Department policy.

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