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Taxincrease below Next year's Town of Whitby tax hike will only cost the average resident about 10 cents a week, a figure that Coun. Marcell Brunelle is more than happy with. Brunelle, who is chairman of the treasurer's department is also this year's budget chief. He points out that next year's tax hike of 1.4 per cent for the urban area and 1.6 per cent for the rural area (or $5.50) is excellent considering the town's cost have in- creased by five per cent or more. "Our costs are up over five per cent," he says, "Salaries alone are up over five per cent and there's a lot of up- ward pressure on the town but the growth in assessment has allowed us to play one off again- st the other (expen- ditures verses revenues)." Brunelle notes that the town's 4.8 per cent growth rate gave the town a good head start in planning the 1985 budget. "That assessment growth gives us a strong base to proceed into 1985 with confidence," he says. But that growth wasn't an accident. "All of this growth hasn't happened by it- self - good planning decisions and strong marketing has shown that Whitby is a good place to live," Brunelle says, adding that "so far, everything looks real good for 1985." This is the third year in a row that the town's tax increases have been below the rate of in- flation - currently run- ning at about four per cent. In 1984, the tax hike was 1.9 per cent while in 1983 it was 3.4 per cent. Although 1985 is a municipal election year, Brunelle says this isn't an election year budget. "I don't think there's a thing in there that's directed at the elec- tion," he says, "except, of course, the money we set aside to run the elec- tion." While the tax increase is comparitively low, the Centre Ward coun- cillor believes that it addresses all of the town's immediate needs. "Basically, the budget addressed the needs of our town in that it does capital work in each part of town," Brunelle says, "I'm quite satisfied that this budget goes a long way to getting us on the road to solving a lot of WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19,1984, PAGE 3 rate of inflation problems." However, he admits that "there are works that need being done but they would take 10 times the budget we have today." Although he is satisfied with the town's tax increase, Brunelle has some concerns about the tax increases that will be imposed by the boards of education and the Region of Durham. "I hope that the region, and particularly the school board, in their budget processes excercise the same kind of restraint we have been able to do." Pupil/Teacher ratio still contentious Durham's 1,511 elementary school teachers will not sign a new collective agreement unless they get a lower pupil- teacher ratio, a spokesman for their bargaining committee said at a press con- ference last Thursday afternoon. Even if the Durham Board of Education gives them their demanded seven per cent wage hike the con- tract will not be signed unless the pupil-teacher ratio (P.T.R.) is reduced from 19.5:1 to 19:1 in the school year beginning September, 1985, according to the chairman of the Durham Elementary Teachers' Association economic policy com- mittee, John Hinch. D.E.T.A. is an um- brella group represen- ting all elementary school teachers, vice- principals and prin- cipals. Hinch said that Durham has the second highest P.T.R. in the province and his mem- bers want some degree of parity with other school boards. Currently, the board has set maximum classes sizes at 28 for kindergarten; 30 for grades 1, 2 and 3; 32 for grades 4, 5 and 6; and 35 for grades 7 and 8. Hinch said that the teachers' proposal would bring the maximum class size in grades 1, 2 and 3 down to 23 and would add 25 to 30 elementary teachers to the board's payroll next year. The matter of class size has been refered to a joint teacher-board subcommittee for fur- ther discussions, however, he declined to comment on the negotiations so far other than to say that "we have still been unsuc- cessful at the table." Hinch also said that the teachers have proposed a three-year plan to implement their class size demands. The teachers are also unhappy at the board's wage increase offer of 1.5 per cent. They have demanded a seven per cent wage hike and an increase in their dental plan benefits to bring them- in line with the 1984 rates. Under the old con- tract, which expired Aug. 31, the teachers dental benefits were paid according to the 1981 Ontario Dental Association fee schedule. The total wage and benefit package offered by the board would give the teachers a compen- sation increase of about 4.8 per cent. The elementary teachers are also angry that the board made the secondary school teachers a two per cent wage offer. They believe they should en- joy the same wage and benefit scales as their high school collegues. "We are rejecting the board's offer," Hinch said adding, "We are willing to live within the recommendation with the fact finders report." That report, prepared by Dr. Harold Jakes, was released to the public last Thursday as well. Jakes' report appears to support most of the teachers' demands he did say that their seven per cent salary hike was too much. Jakes' criticized the board for treating elementary and secon- dary school teachers differently. "In my opinion, the 1.5 per cent offer is too low considering the board's excellent finan- cial situation," he said I Take care over Christmas "Christmas brings emptations to many ýarents, while visiting vith neighbours or »ompleting last minute ;hopping, to leave small hildren unattended for hort periods," says htby Fire Chief Ed mrouch. Crouch urges all arents to recognize the ire danger of this eason, and not to leave mall children alone in the home for a momept. Parents are turther reminded that under certain conditions a Christmas tree can be ignited by a single mat- ch to burn furiously to charred wood in a few seconds. Care must be taken to keep butts of natural trees immersed in water and to ensure that the tree itself does not obstruct access to a door or window. adding, "the teachers' demand for seven per cent on the salary grid and for principal and vice-principal allowan- ces is too high con- sidering current economic conditions in Canada and the need for restraint." The fact finder said he was at a lose to explain why elementary and secondary teachers are treated differently. Jakes said he didn't understand "how the board can offer the elementary teachers a significantly lower grid and administrative allowance increase than it proposed for secon- dary teachers." "I cannot accept the fact that the board ap- pears to be treating their elementary teachers differently." Jakes also suggested that the board should be offering its elementary teachers more in order to bring them in line with secondary teachers. He also said that the Durham Board is not "poor" and "at no time during the fact finding did the board demon- strate that it had an inability to pay the teachers a higher in- crease than 1.5 per cent." The board is also one of the few in Ontario that operates at less than the allowable per pupil ceiling. While Jakes said this "represents superior fiscal responsibility" he said the price is being paid in low teacher morale. Programs also suffer because of large class size, he added. Teachers in Durham Region are paid bet- ween $20,295 and $41,986 a year. Secondary teachers receive about $586 ayear more. Hinch said that the teachers are willing to return to the table and begin negotiations anew. However, he won't say whether or not the teachers are prepared to strike. "We haven't discussed that possibility," he said. But he did stress that the teachers have asked for mediation. Mediation talks should take place sometime in the next few weeks. Brunelle notes that all too often in past years that local property taxes have increased by large amounts because of the levy imposed by those two levels of government. "It is a shame to have that advantage wiped out by the school board and the region bringing in large increases," he says while admitting: "We do not have any control whatsoever over the school board." All we can do is entice them to. follow our example." 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