H r News Provincial cuts strain municipal budgets In North Saanich, the munici- - pality lost about $36,000 in pro- vincial grants, # a Provincial cuts in revenue shar- ing grants are straining the budgets of all Peninsula municipalities, with Central Saanich and North Saanich considering possible tax hikes to make up the difference. The Central Saanich grant is down nine per cent, or $64,000, from the 1991 grant, municipal clerk-administrator George Saw- ada told council Monday. Ald. Clarence Bolt said the cuts in revenue sharing grants “stiffed” the municipality. He predicted the Central Saanich municipal budget will have to be increased by two per cent to compensate for the decreased revenue from provincial grants. Ald. Arlene Box expected the. revenue sharing grants would be frozen but did not expect a reduc- tion. The move, she said, “has put all levels of municipalities scram- bling to make up the difference.” Mayor Ted Jones said council had tried to cut the municipal budget as much as possible yet the provincial budget is still up seven per cent. Bolt recommended council write a letter to Municipal Affairs Minister Robin Blencoe protesting the cut in municipal revenue shar- ing grants and the impact on homeowners. “Innocent property owners are affected,” he said. He also said the provincial gov- emment should have done a more comprehensive tax reform to meet government needs, instead of pass- ing the problem on to municipal government. Municipal treasurer Paul Murray Said taxes would have to be increased by 1.91 per cent to compensate for the reduction in provincial revenue sharing. The move will produce a 7.89 per cent increase over 1991 taxes, in order to meet Central Saanich’s $13.7 million budget. However council members balked at increasing taxes and asked Murray to suggest other ways of making up the $65,000 shortfall, such as budget cuts or funding from reserves. Murray warmed the municipality faces several major expenditures for infrastructure improvements, such as sewer and water, so should not dip too deeply into reserve funds. Sidney lost $57,459 in provin- cial grants, an amount equal to 1.4 per cent of tax rate. The Sidney budget is still being finalized, so the cuts are part of BUDGET ongoing budget deliberations. “It’s been pretty devastating,”* Ald. Don Amos said. DAFFY THE BEAR, Cana- dian Cancer Society's Peninsula mascot, hands out carrots to Parkland students last week. Disabled girl back in school A 13-year-old Saanichton girl, Kimberley Deptford, will be fully integrated into a typical classroom, following an 18-month battle by her parents. Mother Lauraine Deptford said her mentally-handicapped daugh- ter is the first child in the district to be fully integrated into a stan- dard classroom after being in a segregated program. The Deptfords removed Kim- berley from school in the fall of 1990 and initiated a Human Rights action after the Saanich School District refused to fully integrate their daughter. However, before the Human Rights hearing was held, the Deptfords received a letter advis- ing them that Kimberley would be fully integrated in a typical class- room with non-disabled students her own age. She expects Kimberley will attend Mt. Newton Middle School. Arrangements will be made with district officials in the next few weeks for Kimberley’s return to school. She hopes integration into a typical classroom will improve Kimberley’s speech, language development and social skills. “T don’t see any need to segre- gate Kimberley for any of her teaching,” Lauraine concluded. Continued from Page Al Other options are to maintain the current recreation program. Projected costs for each of the - options. have been amended since the Go B.C. grant program was canceled. For a home with an assessed value of $150;000, joining North @- Seanich and Sidney in expanding the Panorama Leisure Centre would add taxes of $139.97 in 1993, climbing to $201.69 by 1996. For example, for the same $150,000 home, financing a new pool and arena in Central Saanich would add $227.25 to taxes in 1993, increasing to $310.08 in 1996. 4 pNNEAS A BOOKSTORE & MORE NAME 1. L. Cheney 2. Pearl 3. G. 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