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The Laurier Students for Literacy (LSFL) group recentâ€" ly donated $5,000 to the Waterlooâ€"Wellington chapâ€" ter of the Sunshine Foundation of Canada. Pictured in the top row from left are incoming chapter president Wendy Schneider, Mark Schuetz of Nabisco, Foundation execuâ€" tive director Bill Rockwood, LSFL president Robert Pozeg, and in the front row are Sunshine kids Christy Campbell and Christiâ€"Joe Snyders, aumara gaigy eunn Waterloo residents face 6.4â€"perâ€"cent tax increase Continued from page 1 portion of their tax bills last year. â€" "The number is way too high at the moment," said Coun. Morty Taylor, who is chair of the city‘s finance commitee. "I wouldn‘t vote in favour of it." Taylor said he will utilize the next two weeks to look for ways to deflate the numâ€" ber. "We really have to go through it with a fineâ€"tooth comb and try to readjust, eliminate _ or _ downsize what‘s being recommended. "We have to remember the regional budget will be on top of what we decide for our taxpayers." Taylor‘s reaction is exactly the attitude Ford was encouraging. He stressed that these numbers are just preliminary, and council will have every opportunity to look for further savings. The same rules apply, he said, to determining the 2001 capital budget, which Spreading sunshine ANDREA BadLEY PROTC now sits at $24.3 million "We‘ve presented the budget a little differently this year," he said. "In the past, this would be the recomâ€" mended budget. But today, we are presenting all of the issues in their totality with no reductions made." While a number of facâ€" tors go into determining a budget, Ford said much of the potential increase can be attributed to the amount of growth the city has seen over the last year, and will continâ€" ue to see in 2001. "Council has a lot to digest over the next couple of weeks," he added. The city‘s chief adminisâ€" trative officer Tom Stockie described the presentation as a menu of issues for counâ€" cil to study. "Council‘s aware of many of these issues, and even raised many of these issues," he said. "The shopping list is long. "But over the next two weeks council will have to do some homework on this document, and by April 2 decide an exact tax increase, if any, for 2001." â€" Mayor Lynne Woolstenâ€" croft pointed out that even with the potential increase, residents would still be payâ€" ing over $100 less than their neighbours in Kitchener and Cambridge. "If you want more serâ€" vices, you have to spend," she said. "Of course, sailing along doing nothing is the cheapâ€" est way of all. But to do the things the community is asking us to do, it costs money." On the flip side, however, she also acknowledged that an increase of this size might be too much for local resiâ€" dents to accept. "This community is not used to an overâ€"sixâ€"perâ€"cent tax increase," she said. "But with the tax rebates most people have received from both the federal and â€" provincial â€" governâ€" ments, those two sources alone more than offset the $38 here." Woolstencroft attributed much of the potential increase to the elimination of the Local Improvement Act in 1999, which used to fund roadâ€"related reconâ€" struction in the city. "This is the first full year of impact since we got rid of the Local Improvement Act," she said. "That‘s why 2.75 per cent of this sixâ€"perâ€"cent increase is to cover mainteâ€" nance to our roads and sideâ€" _ Overall she‘s confident a final figure will be agreed upon in two weeks. "Taxation is a way to redistribute wealth," said Woolstencroft. "And if the community needs services for the elderly or the frail, or requires improved tourism or guarding of local busiâ€" nesses, then we have to make sure the wealth is redistributed to _ provide maximum benefit." "That tells me right there that our staff is not being .1 Tired of Yellow & Stained Teeth? Then have them whitened! "EASTER PROMOTION" Safe, Quick, Easy & Affordable Products approved by A D A ASTER PROMOTION® with live bunnies Capture the moment with some bunnie you love ... have your child/children photographed with live bunnies. The perfect "Easter" Gift for family and friends. Sitting Fee $49.00 5 packages available starting from $80.00 Promotion on now til March 31, 2001 Call Studio (519) 742â€"1997 303 Highland Road West, Kitchener (Opposite Pharma Plus) PETER DENNIS PHOTOGRAPHY (Master of Photographic Arts) > &z A~>