~ Kevin Woodley _ WC ead Peninsula News Review After lengthy debate the Penin- sula Recreation Committee de- cided they needed more informa- tion before making: a decision about the immediate future of San- scha Hall. The committee discussed the is- ~ sue at their Jan. 28 meeting after § concerns were raised over the po- “"—""" : tential effects of moving programs Don Amos ~ from the aging hall on June 1, 1999. ' They eventually passed a motion requesting the Memorial Park So- ciety (MPS), which oversees the . management of Sanscha Hall, to = ~ look into a projected shortfall of - $7,480 and find ways to resolve the financial problems before the sec- ond half of 1999. “I suggest we put this off for a month and give MPS a chance to come up with some funding solu- tions,” said Nick Lott, the recre- ation committee’s newly-appointed chair. “If MPS expects this board “to make up the’ shortfall, than I can’t support! this.” : Even.if the MPS. finds ¢ a ‘way to make up the money, the recreation . -- committee expects to be out of the - hall soon... : “I.don’t.see. in the future that 7. this committee would manage that ~ building ~ either, new or in its pre- “gent: form,” said Sidney ‘Mayor : ‘Don Amos. “Buti in the short term, * Jet's: look at: every. option to try.to |: xtend operations until the end of - keep the options — and the hali— open ” ‘North. -Saanich . “Major Linda Es Michaluk disagreed with keeping. . ~ the Hall open for even a short term - “using municipal money. “We're not prepared to run it in Kevin n Woodley podley Peninsula News Review: When all else fails, ask the people who vote. In the face of provincial cutbacks, Central Saanich council has. decided to ask its con- stituents how they would like to.see the deficit handled in the upcoming budget. residents asking them to set priorities for how $239,087 reduction in the annual pr ovincial grant for Central Saanich. “It's a way of determining what people think about municipal services and an idea of how to proceed in the face of cuts,” said Ed Sykora, Cen- tral Saanich’s director of finanei al services, oo. Sykora said the survey. will cost around $1,200 but added that other municipalities have tae experienced, success with similar surveys in the ‘i past, 7 , The government cuts mei Wa potential pr op- al ~ Wayne Hunter _.. ho support for Sanscha from ~ Central Saanich “Linda. Michaluk’ : dif d . short term. v« the long term. and if you on't funding | is no option out the Peni nsula.. ae think we should be there, then get. for North Saanich |. What cuts are the pabke prepared to support? The district is circulating a two-page survey to. council deals: with the recently announced out now,” said Michaluk. “I can't support what I see as be- ing a slow death of the relationship between Sanscha and the Penin- sula. If I could get out in three months, I would.” With the issue of funding a 6 month extension of services at Sanscha placed carefully on the back burner, the recreation com- mittee discussion turned to the long term solutions for needed recreational space on the Penin- sula. ‘Central ‘Saanich Major ‘Wayne Hunter said members of. his dis- trict did not support running even | a newly built Sanscha Hall. Hunter expressed concerns over any Cen- - tral Saanich involvement with the running of the facility, something echoed by Amos. “I support ending the relation- _ ship,” said Amos. “Management of the hall if different from manage- - | ment of the. programs. MPS ‘should run the hall. It’s unfair to ask the Peninsula Recreation - Committee to help market their : ~ facility.” Sidney Council representative Ted Daly cautioned the commit- © tee to consider other factors be- fore rushing to Pull out of Sanscha * Hall. re ae “What! s the difference petieen- : our community recreation budget, ” which has a $191,000 deficit, and | Sanscha Hall,” said. Daly: “Sanscha = is just community recreati dera different roof. ce | With Daly’s ‘oniments, inmind, the committee passed a motion re- questing staff look into the deficit — numbers: ‘of Sanscha. Hall: pro-. _ grams compared with similar pro- grams at other Rca through- “erty tax increase of 4.72 per cent to the munici- pal portion of taxes in Central Saanich. This would mean an increase of $32.91 for the average... single-family dwelling taxpayer and $101. 10 for the average business taxpayer. : The figures are based on the 1998 average as- sessed values for a single-family dwelling worth: $223,377 and connected to both sewer and water. Business estimates are based on a business vale ved at $323,111. The survey asks residents to evaluate spend. ing in all aspects of the budget, including admin: - istrative services, grants to organizations, pro- tective services and street, park and trail mainte- nance. It was sent out with utility bills and should have been in the mail system by Jan. 28... For those Central Saanich residents not on util- ity service, the questions will be mailed out and more will be dropped at the district's ; apartment “Duildings. “There's no way fo. arate 100 per cent ‘Amanda White. was ‘one of the Grade 6 ‘students who” -| took part in Wacky. Hair Day at the North Saanich... Middle School. The event. was put. on by the. school, spirit committee of the. school’ s student council. « : White's: ‘hair menagerie’ was just an arlene a the” strange lens at the. school | on January 28." KEVIN WOODLEY, PHOTO: “coverage,” said Sykora, “But we're doing the best we can.” One question asks participants how much of an increase they would be willing to pay in order » “to maintain current service levels, Other ques: tions ask people to prioritize areas of service they would like to see cut back or increased and, in the case of grants to organizations, by how much. Sykora said they are asking residents to return the survey by February. 15 and that staff hope to ~ Nave it analyzed for a public information meeting sometime in late April, In the meantime, district staff will continue , working on scenarios for a three per cent budget cutback, something they will present to Central Saanich council sometime in February. “We'll also take a look at other strategies and compare ourselves with other municipalities,” said Sykora, The deadline for adoption of a final municipal ue t is my 15, ” Prepare Your RRSP. for Year 2000. To Receive Viola Van de Ruyt’s FREE. InfoKit. Call Deborah Today at 655-1303. “Total Value Over $100! - Please call for Information. —_ Viola Vi in de Ruyt FCST Presta tcc hrs ig Investment Advisor || eit aes ee RBC Dominion Securities is 4 member, wong! Royak Bank Finanelal Groupe RBC. 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