CE+Brix

= Spectre of 10% tax hike sends Vancouver council cutting = ====** // Last Updated: Wednesday, February 4, 2009 | 12:24 PM PT // [|Comments//12//][|Recommend//5//] **====

[|**CBC News**]
Vancouver city councilors have told managers they need to slash costs to avoid an unprecedented property tax hike in this year's budget that could hit 10 per cent. A draft budget shows a property tax hike of six percent would be needed to maintain current service levels. The economic downturn is adding extra pressure to cut costs or hike taxes. Revenue from development permits, for example, has been plunging. In addition, council is planning to shift part of the tax burden from businesses to homeowners. It all adds up to a potential tax increase for homeowners of more than 10 per cent, unless costs are cut, say staff and councilors. Coun. Raymond Louie said council decided at Tuesday night's meeting to instruct the city manager to implement a freeze on hiring and pay increases, encourage early retirements and cut down on the city's use of outside consultants. Council will also seek public input before the budget is finalized in April. But Coun. David Cadman said it will be a struggle to avoid cuts to services. "It's going to be very, very hard without cutting into services. Of course we'll wait and see what the surveys say. I think people want the services, but it's going to be hard," said Cadman.

Brix Redo Cordero WHAT: The article talks about how the managers should budget more because if they don’t, the property tax they are paying can go up 10%. 6% of the budget of their property tax is needed to be able to maintain their current level as shown in the draft budget. Because of the downturn of the economy, it’s adding pressure to the companies so the council is planning on shifting the taxes from the companies to homeowners which adds 10% additional tax to homeowners. WHERE: The news took place in Vancouver, British Columbia. WHEN: The news took place on February 4, 2009; 12:24 pm WHO: Councilor Raymond Louie said that they should stop hiring and pay increases and no further use of outside consultants. But Councilor David Cadman commented about how hard it would be in cutting services. WHY: It happened because of the economic downturn and if the companies won`t budget, their tax would go up. According to the council, the tax would be going up if the companies won`t budget so they are planning about the shifts and also about the freeze in hiring and cuts in services. WHY DID YOU CHOSE THIS ARTICLE: I chose this article because it`s new and still fresh. The news was also written very simple and easy to read. Especially, I chose this because people are always into tax news these days since the world is experiencing the worst economical problem these days. I think this news would be helpful for lots of people.

= Video shows snowmobiler surviving massive avalanche. = = What:  = Video captured a snowmobiler in a massive avalanche in the Valemount B.C on Saturday. ** A ** snowmobiler was trying to reach a high point on a mountain by racing up a steep slope, before turning and heading back down. Where: Near Valemount, B.C., about 80 kilometres west of Jasper When: Saturday April 4, 2009 Who: Blaine Jezowski the one who told the CBC news and the one who took the video and the snowmobiler, base on the article the name of the snowmobiler doesn’t show on the article Why and How: A snowmobiler climbs the top of a mountain peak near Valemount, B.C. moments before a massive avalanche. It is very dangerous for the snowmobiler since he could have been trapped in the avalanche. Why I chose this article? I chose this article because it is quite impressive for him to do that, although it is really dangerous to do that. A man was even able to catch it in video

Surrey  shooting victim found near highway dies What: A man who was found lying on the side of a highway in Surrey, B.C., and Tuesday morning with a gunshot wound has died in hospital. Where: This event happened on the side of a highway in Surrey B.C. The man was found on Highway 10, just east of 132nd Street. When: This event happened TUESDAY May 12, 2009, RCMP   officers responded at about 8:45 a.m. PT to what they thought was a traffic accident. Who: The RCMP officers, the guy that got shot and the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. Why and How: The man was found on Highway 10, just east of 132nd Street after Surrey RCMP officers responded at about 8:45 a.m. PT to what they thought was a traffic accident. Someone had made a 911 call, reporting a man lying in the road. Why I choose this article: I choose this article because I love shooting news and its on surrey.