Blue Jays hand Cards first loss
Riding in focus: Surrey-Newton
page 43
pages 10-11
Thursday April 25, 2013
Serving Surrey and North Delta www.surreyleader.com
Dry grads take tax hit Charitable receipts for safe school celebrations not accepted by Canada Revenue Agency by Sheila Reynolds EACH YEAR, parent
groups at local high schools gear up for graduation. And most times, that includes a dry grad celebration, where teens can gather in a drug and alcohol-free environment and celebrate together. Often there is music, a variety of entertainment, food and prizes – all aimed at giving those graduating a safe night to remember. But Trustee Terry Allen says a problem has come to light that could put all that in jeopardy. With such celebrations costing at least $20,000, the fundraising involved is extensive. Schools hold sales of a variety of goods from baked items to plants, they have raffles and parent pub nights. See DRY GRADS / Page 3
BOAZ JOSEPH / THE LEADER
Trio of dancers – or not
How many ballerinas are on stage? Just one, thanks to a multiple exposure photograph of Alexa Krywulak from the Annay Wyman School of Dance Art (West Vancouver) competing in the Solo Variation En-Pointe (ballet) category in the Surrey Festival of Dance at the Surrey Arts Centre on April 21. No digital manipulation (such as Photoshop) was used to create this image.
End of HST costs Surrey millions
by Kevin Diakiw
SURREY TAXPAYERS are taking an
unexpected hit with the switch back to the Provincial Sales Tax (PST). In three civic projects alone, Surrey
will have to shell out $4 million more with the dissolution of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), which combined the Provincial Sales Tax (seven per cent) and Goods and Services Tax (GST, at five per cent).
Editorial 6 Letters 7 Sports 43 Arts 49
Under the HST, Surrey would have received a 10.25 per cent refund for building materials. The extra costs for the new city hall in Whalley will be another $1.5 million, while the tab for two recreation
centres are jumping $2.5 million. Those extra costs were not factored into the current budget, so when Surrey sits down to figure out next year’s budget, savings will have to be found.
People 54 Classifieds 57
See GILL / Page 3
Save time, save money.
On the prowl again.