if Ai2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 3, 1996 Area homeowners getting tax relief By KATHLEEN BRANDSMA TAXPAYERS IN the city of Terrace will likely be spared from any sig- nificant increases this year, In fact, some homeowners will ac- tually be paying less, City treasurer Keith Norman says the city’s portion of the tax bill will be the same or less for about half of the homeowners in Terrace. But, he adds, if your assessment went up by more than 12 per cent, the city tax portion will rise. He’s still waiting to see what the school tax numbers will be, but anticipates they may come down a bit as well, The Kitimat-Stikine Regional Dis- trict is the first body to finalize its budget, and for most taxpayers it’s good news. Terrace residents will-see an aver- age decrease of 5.03 per cent on the regional district portion of their tax bills. Kitimat taxpayers will experience a dip of 5.4 per cent in their regional Buggy driver bagged A 20-YEAR-OLD Terrace man faces several charges alter RCMP were involved in a chase with a dune buggy March 28. Police showed up at the city dump on Kalum Lake Drive to find a dune buggy racing around the area. Officer didn’t have any success in pulling it over and a 1.5km chase followed, The buggy was finally stopped on Dover Road and the driver and passenger were taken into custody, Stephen Devost has been charged with failing to stop for police, causing a police pursuit, driving with rea- sonable consideration and district assessment while in Thorn- hill, the numbers will fluctuate be- tween zero and a two per cent in- crease. Electoral Area C, which includes Lakelse Lake will stay about the same, But regional district treasurer Verna Wickie points out the numbers for Thornhill and Electoral area C are more difficult to pin down be- cause homeowners there are taxed according to what services are of- fered in their specific neighbour- hoods. And regional district chair Joanne Monaghan says it was a struggle to keep the numbers down, She explains the district was hit wilh 2 $1.1 million levy from the new Northwest Regional Hospital District and says that forced directors to scramble for more money. She says they decided to take $393,000 out of the old regional hos- pital district’s reserve and $450,000 out of surplus, “We cleaned ourselves out total- ly,”” she says. ‘‘We’ve been cautious in our budgeting and now we get hit’ with this,’ But because the old hospital district is being dissolved, Monaghan says she’d heard the government would be taking back any outstanding reserve or surpluses. Had that reserve and surplus monies not been available, some ratepayers could have been. facing significant increases, it’s possible that still may happen next year, depending on what the new Northwest Hospital District wants. The $1.1 million has not yet been allocated for any specific projects. However the Northwest Regional Hospital District has approved in principal the expenditure of $3.6 mil- lion for an addition to the Bulkey Lodge extended care facility in Smithers. The money will be acquired through long-term borrowing. Looking at some of the 1996 Specifics, regional district general _ government spending is going up from $663,675 to $686,473 to allow for more money for treaty advisory commnissions, Approximately $18,000 has been budgeted for the municipal elections in November, and spending on pilan- ning services is jumping from $222,500 to 295,190. Wickie says more money will be spent on planning issues in Thornhill and the electoral areas this year, There has been a figure budgeted for the annual staff salary review in July, but Wickie declined to say what that was until directors have finalized it. Last year salaries went up by an average of 3 per cent, and Wickie says this year’s number isn’t a lot different. Spending on garbage dumps is Neon beats the competition with going up significantly — from $314,150 ta $544,324, The major expenditures will focus on hydrogeological testing at the Thornhill dump and site selection processes in Terrace, Hazelton and « Meziadin. There’s been a $106,000 increase in the Thornhill Parks and Recreation budget for new tennis courts at the Thornhill Community Hall and a bike path on Old Lakelse Lake road. The regional. district is hoping for provincial grants to help offset these cosls. Spending on emergency prepared- ness is going up from $8,125 to $30, 090, in part because the district is doubling the amount it gives to Terrace Emergency Services. This year that organization will get $5,000, Money has also been allocated for Terrace Victims Assistance and for a new vehicle to transport the Hazelton _jaws of life. CHALLENGE NO-CHARGE AIR CONDITIONING and 500 REBATE driving without insurance. ner ' Can't Wait For Spring | Get Away Contest | ra ' Can't Wait For Spring | Get Away Contest preteen eee eee ee a Can't Wait For Spring | Get Away Contest YOUR COLLEGE IN: ~ © YOUR COMMUNITY CHRYSLER among 20 great value features. 1996 Neon 4-docr Highline ale QL CHRYSLER CANADA a Of cial Sprneseie est he Canadien dite npis: Ratt trade and $225 = es '630 freight. - ” fia'Maney- thon, 7 EX = |Dare to compare! Take the Neon Value Challenge at your B.C. Chrysler Team. 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