Friday November 13, 2015 (Vol. 40 0 No. 91) 1)) 1
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
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S O U T H
Reviving Hope: After a three-year hiatus, Nitee of Hope organizers have given n a new twist to their fundraising ng efforts, opening doors next week to a holiday home tour. i see page 11
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
Rising policing costs add to delay of city operating budget
Uncharted territory for Surrey tax hike Kevin Diakiw Black Press
The cost of a big-ticket municipal election promise for policing in Surrey is proving to be a crushing financial burden, as the city wrangles with how to balance next year’s budget. In the 2014 election campaign, Surrey First – which won every seat on council – promised 100 more police officers this year. The city budgeted for them to arrive last
month, and 2016 will be the first full year in which taxpayers will have to pay for the $15-million pledge. Normally, the municipal budget – in its entirety – is calculated each November. This year, because of delays in home valuation from the B.C. Assessment Authority and the burden of the added policing costs, Surrey has postponed consideration of the operating budget until Feb. 15, 2016.
Black Press has learned property taxes will be increasing, but at this point, no one knows by how much. On Nov. 23, Surrey’s finance committee will consider utility costs and other fees. Utilities, including garbage, sewer and water, will increase by $27.50 per home – half of which is a result of Metro Vancouver increases. The new $100 recreation and culture levy
announced weeks after the election in 2014 will remain in place next year, and the road levy will increase by one per cent as forecast in the city’s last five-year plan. The road levy was introduced in 2007 as a temporary five-year measure. The city now plans to continue it for at least another six to 12 years. It amounts to $110 for the average home in Surrey valued at $671,000. i see page 8
Arbitration possible
Utility sale ‘priceless’ Melissa Smalley Staff Reporter
Tracy Holmes photo
Ashley Macdonald hopes that sharing her struggles with anxiety will give hope to youth and families who are dealing with mental-health issues.
Action team unites parents, educators and health experts to assist struggling students
Growing anxiety over youth stress Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Ashley Macdonald knows her story may be difficult for people to hear, and understand – at rock-bottom, she was cutting herself on a daily basis to cope with her anxiety. But there’s a reason she’s sharing the details. “I just want to get my voice heard and I want to spread some hope for other people, stop the stigma,” Macdonald said. “By standing up there and talking about it… that breaks that stigma.” Macdonald, a White Rock resident, got
involved with a 60-plus member local action team of the Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Collaborative shortly after it formed in May, and will share her story at an event Nov. 17 at White Rock Elementary focused on youth and mental illness. The speaker series – a suicide-prevention forum was held at Elgin Park Secondary in August and a resource night is set for Nov. 25 at Earl Marriott – is among the team’s efforts to address gaps in timely, co-ordinated access to mental-health services for children and youth.
At 19, Macdonald knows the need firsthand. She started experiencing anxiety when she was in Grade 7, but it hit hardest in Grade 10, triggering an eating disorder and pattern of self-harm that landed her in and out of hospital – mostly in – for two years. In school, it was almost routine for Macdonald to be removed from class for her behaviour; behaviour she says was a cry for help that authority figures didn’t recognize or know how to deal with. i see page 4
Despite taking ownership and operation of the water utility two weeks ago, the City of White Rock and Epcor have yet to agree upon a purchase price, according to the city manager. Following weeks of inquiries about the purchase price – unanswered by city officials due to “confidentiality provisions” – Dan Bottrill confirmed ❝We were Tuesday that the able to price has yet to transfer the be determined. utility prior “We were able to the parties to transfer the coming to a utility prior to negotiated the parties coming to a negotiprice.❞ ated price,” BotDan Bottrill trill told Peace city manager Arch News. “At this point, we still haven’t agreed on a price. If we don’t come to an agreement, the matter can be determined by arbitration.” Describing the negotiating process as “difficult,” Bottrill explained the city was “motivated to acquire the water utility as soon as it could.” The transfer of ownership and i see page 4
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