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PAGE 12, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1987 Durham Region 1988budget preparations begin Durham Region's various com- mittees and staff will have a lot of paring to do over the next few mon- ths in order to reduce the Region's preliminary budget of $53.3 million. This initial "wish list" is a 25.8 per cent increase over 1987, but drops to 19.3 per cent after Durham's assessment growth of 6.5 per cent is taken into consideration. Finance chairman Jack Gartley stressed the initial budget was exactly what it is jokingly referred to -a wish list, adding it is far removed from the actual budget figures that will be presented to council for approval inMarch. He said final figures from the depart tment heads at the Region will be forwarded late this month or in early December. After a joint meeting of the finan- ce and management committees last Friday, regional chairman Gary Herrema said he doubted there would be a double-digit tax increase in 1988, particularly since it is an election year. Last year's increase was held at 9.8 per cent, or $42.3 million. To be considered while preparing the 1988 budget is the allocation of funds for several major projects: the final renovations of Whitby's Fairview Lodge; reserve funds for a 911 emergency telephone system; a new regional headquarters building; and a new waste disposal site. Council has already commit- Region won't pay for lights ted itself to the construction of a new police station in Pickering. These special projects total some $5.6 million, and if removed from preliminary figures, would bring the initial budget figures down to reflect a 16.6-per cent increase. There are other major reasons for this year's increase. The social services department has indicated it requires an additional 33.4 per cent in its budget, or $2.7 million, which includes a $1.5-million in- crease for welfare and a 49.6-per cent increase to look after homes for the aged throughout Durham. Likewise, the works department feels it will require an increase of 20 per cent in its budget, or some $1.1 million for road and street work. In a report, Gartley and chief administrative officer Don Evans indicate increases over the in- flation rate are required to meet the demand for increased services in Durham Regional Police and works and social services to ac- commodate the rapid growth of the Region. Herrema said that although the growth was causing its own problems, the Region should not "put the brakes on development" because it would be difficult to at- tract it in the future if it is slowed downnow. Gartley told the two committees thç Region had a $750,000 surplus from a lot levy fund which should be applied to the $1 million it is ex- pected to cost for the renovations to Fairivew in 1988. He explained by doing this, the Region would only have to come up with $250,000 to complete the project next year. Regional spending, without special levies and non-program financing such as government grants and surplus amounts, is forecast at $67.8 million, a 15.4-per cent, or $9-million increase over 1987' Most of that is due to the an- ticipated 15.3-per cent increase in the police budget. Durham Regional Police Chief Jon Jenkins told the committees $1.2 million was already committed for salaries through contracts signed and another $1.5 million would be required to hire an ad- ditional 42 employees. He indicated that even with these new em- ployees, Durham is still below the average policing levels for major forces. last year the police force hired 38 new employees. Regional council members have backed up a recommendation from the works department that Durham not pay for the installation of traffic signals on Manning Rd. where it in- tersects Anderson St. and Thickson Rd. in Whitby. Whitby has asked the Region to reimburse them for the cost of in- stalling lights at the two intersec- tins (both Anderson and Thickson are regional roads) when provin- cial warrants were met. That is when there are sufficient cars passing through the intersections to warrant provincial funding. Whitby had asked the Region to permit them to pay for the in- stallation of the lights in order that they could be put up immediately, rather than wait for the projects to go through 1988 budget talks. When provincial warrants were met, the Region would then reimburse the Town the $120,000 or so it would cost to install the lights. But region 'works chairman Gerry Emm, a Whitby councillor, said this would be highly unfair. He explained that to determine inter- sections which justify traffic signals, the Region annually reviews all locations which meet the warrant and devise a priority list. He told council members of the 80 now eligible, 13 are on a priority list. "Unfortunately, he said, "our budget only permits us to do two or three a year." He said that since the intersec- .tions on Manning were not open as yet, Region works could not verify their warrant status and without that status, could not determine their relative priority or even predict in which year they might be proposed for installation. Regional chairman Gary Herrema stated a policy had been in place since 1979 iot to reimburse any municipality for installing traf- fic signals because those paid for prior to being warranted were not eligible for the 50 per cent provin- cial funding. Council did, however, agree to maintain the traffic lights should Whitby decide to install them at their own cost. Major developments.... FROM PAGE 4 Whitby on the region list: Durham Region Non-Profit Housing Corp. 70-unit apartment building on Nichol, $3.2 million; Durham Board of Education elementary school, $2 million; Smith and Nephew Inc. manufacturing building, $2 million; 682056 Ontario Inc. medical building, $1.75 million; Fairview Lodge alterations, $1.7 million; 25- unit group housing by Village Green Homes, $1.35 million; B.A.L. Development new retail building, $960,000; Canada Transport Ltd. terminal facilities, $870,000; Eastglen Properties multiple in- dustrial units, $750,000; Devesc Group Properties Inc. plaza, $736,000; Gerhard Ernest Sygo 11- suite condominium, $628,000; Durham Region recycling centre, $551,000; Deleware Investments shopping plaza extension (first phase), $550,000; 382840 Ontario Ltd. retail stores, $500,000; Dupont Canada Inc. extruder plant exten- sion, $500,000; Janice May Wysot- ski medical clinic, $500,000. Town and Brick clash FROM PAGE 11 upper portion of the pavilion struc- ture. They also recommended that the best complimentary color and material now on the building be used on the supporting legs, the decision to be made by planning director Bob Short. Council approved the recom- mendation Monday. i-J~~~~~ rNfR WO1 oO Vacatio in' Includ Lovely Transp Shoppii Air Fai """g"" Honidaysi )n a Full Month Florida es most Meals accommodation ortation to ng & Attractions re Fully escorted from your home! also available 2 week stays CALL NOW!! 301 SJok St. N., Wlitby 5755 _ on--**Aumo&-