'-Watermains may drain North Saanich reserves Coan eS News _ A page-by-page review of the budget Apnil 29 saved North Saa- nich taxpayers $2,400 — and pro- duced a warning that watermain upgrading will cost the district $3 million over the next decade. A preliminary report on the North Saanich water system iden- tifies $3 million worth of work is required, municipal engineer Jack Parry said. There is $150,000 in the munic- ipalities’ water utility reserve and an Operating surplus in the water fund of $600,000, municipal trea- _Surer Ralph Gillis said. Upgrading water mains to pro- vide basic fire protection will cost $750,000 per year over the next two years, Parry said. He hopes the municipality will receive 25 per cent provincial government fund- ing to offset the cost. “1 don’t think we’ve ever faced this kind of upgrade before in this municipality,” Mayor Maurice Chazottes said. He also warmed the nine per cent increase predicted in policing costs may be “very optimistic.” Negotiations now underway between the province and the fed- eral government on RCMP ser- vices could increase municipal policing costs by up to 30 per cent, Chazottes said. “This is the kind of nasty sur- prise that makes me leery of draining our reserves too much,” he said. Ald. Brian Dunic noted North Saanich may also be expected to contribute to the cost of a new Sidney-North Saanich police office. Gillis said the municipality could borrow up to $11 million if additional money was suddenly ? BRENTWOOD required to provide municipal ser- VICES. Cuts approved by North Saanich council at a committee of the whole meeting April 29 reduced the budget deficit from $33,315 to $30,915, which will produce a 2.15 per cent increase in the tax rate. At that tax rate, Gillis said an average North Saanich home, assessed at $229,000, would pay an estimated $317 in municipal taxes. In 1990, the average tax was $309. That figure does not include regional district, hospital or school taxes. Ald. Bill Gordon and Ald.. Dee Bailin voted against accepting the budget. “We're sitting in a depression era,” Gordon said, predicting sub- stantial increases in taxes for some people. : Gordon, Bailin and Ald. Edo Nyland opposed'a $5,000 payment by North Saanich into the water fund. However Ald. Ross Imrie said it would be foolish of the district to drain reserves to prevent a budget increase or not to keep putting money aside in reserve funds. The district should prepare a plan for future capital expendi- tures, such as repairing aging roads and water lines, Imrie said. Chazottes, Imrie, Dunic and Ald. Bill Turner supported the $5,000 water fund payment. A $50,000 road study was opposed by Bailin and Gordon, however Parry said the information was essential for road mainte- nance. “We're up here patching roads, flying by the seat of our pants,” MOTHER'S DAY SUNDAY MAY 72th No Purchase Necessary MOTHER’S DAY DRAW Enter to Win 1st PRIZE $100 Gift Certificate for DINNER AT THE LATCH 2nd PRIZE $50 GIFT BASKET Parry remarked. The study will be more expen- sive if divided over two years, since the equipment will have to be bought to the municipality twice, Parry said. The study will identify the con- dition of North Saanich roads and the most effective repair measures. Chazottes said North Saanich roads are not in good condition, citing his own street where a metal plate covers a collapsed section of the road. “T believe the study should be done as soon as possible,” he said. Aldermen agreed to cut the seminar and convention budget by $2,900, since the Union of B.C Municipalities’ convention is in ~ Victoria this year, eliminating the need to rent hotel rooms. The district will rent one room during the convention. “Could we sleep seven in one hotel room? We’d get to know each other really well,” Chazottes suggested. Cuts and changes were also made in the fire department’s budget to allow the department to get a computer this year for record-keeping. Council members criticized a 31 per cent increase in the Capital TheReview Wednesday, May 8, 1991 — A9 Regional District budget and imcreases in the regional library requisition. : Nyland suggested the regional district be forced to do zero-base budgeting, however Chazottes said smaller municipalities, like North Saanich, have little impact on regional district decisions. 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