FLIP-FLOP See editorial page t 41v 4hr Rt Icb an Nhiety Years of Editorial Freedom 434iri SLIP-SLOP See Today for details w Vol. XC, No. 125 Ann Arbor, Michigan-Tuesday, March 11, 1980 Ten Cents Twelve Pages City administrators predict tight year fo By JOHN GOYER Faced with escalating energy costs, shrinking ources of outside revenues, and new demands on the city's budget, City Hall administrators are predicting a tight year for Ann Arbor's' government as they prepare the 1980-81 budget. Adding pressure to the budget is a strong sentiment among council-majority Republicans to cut taxes this year. IN A MEMO to City Council last week, City Administrator Terry Sprenkel .described the fiscal worries in the most flexible area of the city's budget, the general fund. The fund accounted for about $25.5 million of the city's 43.8 million in expenditures this fiscal .ear-1979-80. Sprenkel estimated that the general fund would grow by only 4.3 per cent-while the cost of government will probably rise at a rate of about10per cent. Sprenkel and Assistant City Administrator Patrick Kenney, interviewed before spring break, said the general fund would suffer both from increasing energy costs and decreasing amounts of funding from the federal and state governments. THEY SAID the cost of providing police and fire protection and of collecting city refuse was skyrocketing due to higher cost for fuel. Sprenkel also said the cost of operating the city's water and sewage treatment plants, supported through funds separate from the general fund, was also increasing due to rising costs for energy and chemicals-some of which rose 40 per cent. Water and sewage treatment are funded through self-sufficient budgets that are separated from the general fund. THESE FUNDS totalled some $10.5 million this fiscal year, and along with the parking system, are the major activities financed from segregated funds. State and federal contributions to the general. fund, which added up to about $f million last' year, are expected to decrease or increase only slightly; Sprenkel said. In addition to uncertainty over state sales tax rebates, likely to rise little due to the dismal condition of Michigan's economy, Sprenkel said "there's a tremendous amount of uncertainty over what the policy is going to be for (federal) revenue sharing and what the. formula is going to be." ANN ARBOR probably will lose if the revenue sharing formula is changed, Sprenkel said, due to the city's high average income and low unemployment. The $25.5 million general fund financed police and fire protection, City Hall salaries, refuse collection, pension fund contributionsa and payment of past city debts. Property taxes, which accounted for nearly $16 million in general fund revenues this year, are slated to rise by.15 to 18 per cent-but taxes are also the target of Fourth Ward Republicans Ed Hood and David Fisher.I UNDER THE Headlee Amendment, the city could not receive an increase in total property tax revenues more than the rate of inflation. But the increase is measured using the authorized level of taxation as a base, and the city did not levy taxes last year at the full rate authorized by the city's charter. Hood, Fisher, and other Republicans are responding to complaints of city property r budget owners, whose homes were upped in value by about 20 per cent this year, thus increasing their taxes even if the rate of taxation remains constant. The assessment increase citywide averaged 16 per cent, due to a lower increase for commercial property. At last Monday's council meeting, council unanimously approved a Hood-Fisher proposal to request Sprenkel to prepare two city budgets for consideration in May: one a balanced budget, and the other incorporating a 15 per cent increase in funding for the city's general fund: THE DEMOCRATIC minority on council voted for the resolution because they said they did not object to the preparation of two budgets for informational purposes, but they were unanimous in opposing an actual 15 per cent See TIGHT, Page 9 Chances *for Soviet' troop removal remote From AP and UPI Taking a tough new line, the Soviet Union now says the chances it will pull its 80,000 troops from Afghanistan are "remote. Pravada, the Communist party daily, warned during the weekend that the Soviet Union "will not remain passive" to what it 'called American -and allied "actions against our security." SOVIET OCCUPATION forces in the *war-torn country have launched a second major offensive against Moslem guerrillas into the eastern rebel-held province of Paktia, it was reported yesterday. In Waslington, defense sources said they expect an extra 25,000 to 30,000 Soviet troop 'I tfcemnt§ to pour across into Afghanistan within the month,' boosting-the total number of troops in the country over 100,000. Western diplomats in neighboring Pakistan confirmed the apparent fresh offensive, saying tanks backed by MiG fighter-bombers and helicopter gunships were engaged in heavy fighting against rebels in the town of Chigha Sarai. REBEL GROUPS in Peshawar, near the border with Afghanistan, also reported "fierce fighting" in the districts of Wolswali and Sarna. In the Khost district, they said guerrillas captured 29 Afghan army troops and put 11 tanks and trucks out of action. The official Tass news agency said American agents were continuing subversive acts against Afghanistan, and "this makes remote the possibility of a withdrawal of Soviet troops." After weeks of trying to justify its actions in Afghanistan as a response to See SOVIET, Page 7 Latest Khomeini demands send U.in k a w ' -'d oM Doily Photo by JIM KRUZ MICILGAN'S Paul Heuerman (15) lays in a basket over Texas-El Paso's Anthony.Burns. Ifeuerman scored 12 points in the Wolverines 74-65 victory over Texas last night at Crisler Arena. ichigan movUes to final eightin NIT From UPI and AP TEHRAN, Iran-Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini yesterday vetoed any release of the U.S. hostages before May and a special U.N. investigating commission immediately packed its bags to leave Iran with its mission in total collapse. In Washington, the White House said the mission had been suspended and called the situation "very serious." The statement blamed the failure of the U.N. mission squarely on Iran's revolutionary government, which was unable to take custody of the hostages as a prelude to their eventual freedom. THE RULING Revolutionary Council, reacting to Khomeini's vow to "fight against the U.S. government until death," backed off its demand to take custody of approximately 50 Americans. Khomeini, in a message broadcast on Tehran Radio,' said the U.N. Commission may not talk with the Americans, now in their 128th day of captivity, until the five-member panel issues a report on its investigation of the regime of the deposed shah. Samir Sanbar, a spokesman for the U.N. panel, said the five jurists were departing for Geneva last night at 11 p.m. EST. TIHE SPOKESMAN said the -commission took the decision after meeting with Foreign Minister Sadegh Ghotbzadeh for three hours, from 11:45 p.m. to 2:45 a.m. local time. The announcement of the five- member panel's departure came after a Revolutionary Council spokesman said Khomeini ruled out any release of the hostages until Iran's still-to-be elected Parliament convenes and discusses the hostage situation. The Parliament will be elected in two stages, with the second part of the elections in April, meaning the legislature will not sit as an official body before May. PRESIDENT CARTER summoned Democratic and Republican congressional leaders to a hurriedly arranged conference yesterday on developments in Iran that were described as "very serious." White House press secretary Jody Powell, who announced the meeting less than 15 minutes before it began, said events, in Iran appear to have taken "a very serious turn." No decision ley Carter for dealing with the situation, was disclosed by the White House following the president's meeting with the congressional leaders. FOLLOWING T HE session with Carter, one of the participants, Sen. Jacob K. Javits (R-N.Y.), said the setback in transfer of the hostages to the ruling Revolutionary Council represents "a real failure of the government in Iran." Senate Republican Leader Howard Baker of Tennessee, who also met with reporters outside the White House after the meeting with Carter, described the turnabout on the hostages as "another disappointment in a long string of disappointments." Javits and Baker declined to discuss Carter's mood or what steps he mentioned that he might be considering in the 128-day crisis. But Baker, without offering specifics, said he ,thought "there may be 'a glimmer of hope" ahead. There was speculation that the administration might be preparing a fresh Iran policy statement. By STAN BRADBURY There were six seconds remaining in last night's second-round National Invitation Tournament (NIT) game between Michigan and Texas-El Paso when Wolverine guard Keith Smith conveyed the message. The right arm went up, and with it came a thunderous ovation from 10,478 Crisler Arena fans. The second nerve-racking obstacle in the race tok New York had been hurdled, but not before the Miners gave the Blue cagers all they could handle in Michigan's 74-65 victory. THE WOLVERINES now advance to the third round Thursday night. A victory in that contest would send them to the Big Apple for the semi-final and final rounds,i which will be played March 17 and 19 in Madison Square Garden. Ironically, Michigan beat the taller Miners at their own game-rebounding. The Wolverines finished with a 37-26 edge on the boards, a factor that proved most decisive in a game in which both teams were nearly dead-even in their field goal percentages. See MICHIGAN. Page 10 Adminsitration officials said yesterday they expect members of the special fact-finding commission, sent to Iran by the United Nations, to leave the country without issuing a report unless they are allowed to see the hostages. The officials, speaking privately, said the rules of operation for the commission, as understood by both the United States and the United Nations, prohibit the release of a report on the panel's findings unless the commission has seen all the hostages. F arrell resigns ag ocke coach By MARK BOROWSKI Michigan hockey coach Dan Farrell announced his resignation yesterday after being the Wolverine mentor for seven years. The 42-year-old Hamilton, Ontario native has accepted a position with the Merit Corporation, a Toronto-based in- vestment firm. "I HAVE BEEN approached by a firm that gave me an opportunity that was too good to pass up," Farrell said. "It was not something I was looking for, I had no intention of moving to Toronto. "I was offered the position several months ago and made the decision a few weeks ago." "It's been a great experience for me here," continued Farrell, "and I have really enjoyed working with the people at Michigan. I'm going to miss it, but I'm looking forward to a new challenge." HE ANNOUNCED his decision to Michigan Athletic Director -Don Canham last Tuesday. "Dan's done a fine job with our hockey program and we will miss him," said Canham. "We are starting a search immediately and hope to name a new coach shortly." The decision came as a complete sur- prise to Farrell's players. "I didn't know what was happening until I got in- to the dressing room," said junior alternate captain Tim Manning. "I was really shocked." Departing senior Dan Lerg was also See FARRELL, Page 11 City settles suit out of court with former clerk Weiss By JOHN GOYER and NICK KATSARELAS Ann Arbor settled out of court yesterday with former City Clerk Jerome Weiss, who charged he was unjustly fired almost two years ago. The suit was due to go to trial tomorrow morning. Weiss settled for $7,500 from the city and a statement signed by Mayor Louis Belcher to be inserted in Weiss' personal record saying he was a "dedicated and loyal city employee:" BELCHER SAID he "could live with. the statement," but added "If you read anything between the lines, it isn't worth a warm pitcher of spit." Council unanimously approved the settlement with Weiss after City Attorney Bruce Laidlaw said the suit "has, the prospect of being a long- term litigation." Former City Administrator Sylvester Murray suspended Weiss in May 1978 after 20 township residents were found to have been mistakenly registered as city voters for the 1977 election - a contest in which former Mayor Albert Wheeler defeated Belcher by one vote. Some city officials blamed Weiss for the error, which resulted in a lengthy court battle and an eventual special elec- tion, which Belcher narrowly won. SYLVESTER, after suspending Weiss, offered him a lower-level job at a reduced salary. Weiss agreed, but later asked for a vacation. Weiss then told city officials he would not be returning to work for the city. Months later, he sued. Weiss claims the May 1978 action violated due process of law because Murray did not notify council in writing within 24 hours of the dismissal, nor did council review the case within 30 days, as the City Charter stipulates. LAST SEPTEMBER, Murray - now Cincin- nati's city manager --said he did not bring Weiss' case to council for a vote because, "I didn't want to embarrass him with a vote. I do not doubt what the vote would have been." In other action yesterday, council held its last public hearing on the application for the 1980 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), a federally-funded housing assistance program. The proposed appropriation of the $1.6 million grant was addressed in the public hearing only by Albert Wheeler, former city mayor and a con- sultant with the Model City Health Care program. He expressed support for the block grant, stating that the funds would help maintain housing for lower income people. THE GRANT program makes available monies for such programs as housing rehabilitation and winterization, street repair and park development, legal aid, child care assistance, and senior and handicapped citizens' services. Council is scheduled to vote Monday on sub- mitting the application to regional offices of the department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) where it will undergo preliminary review before going to the Washington D.C. office in early May. Barry Tilmann, acting director of the Com- munity Development office, explained that almost 32 per cent of the block grant will be used for public services, although HUD last year directed the city to aim for funding public ser- vices at 20 per cent. But Tilmann said he believes HUD will accept the city's higher allocation. "We feel that because HUD has approved the same figure in the past," Tilmann explained, "they shouldn't change courses on us this time." Sip-Z A-Cra Crb-Hag Hah-Kz L-Mo Students will be assigned times to CRISP between April 7 and April 18 according to the above schedule. LSA students can pick up student verification fortes with their appointment times at the LSA Building beginning April 3. 1- ('-n ti at Daytona Speedway. Debbie DeLaurentis of Daytona Beach's Chamber of Commerce said the average number of visitors drawn to the town during the seven-week spring break period in March and April is 566,030. "There should be as many if not more' visitors this year than last, DeLaurentis predicted. "The beaches are packed every year." It's only 51 weeks till spring break. E On the inside The Editorial page featuires acomparisnof the I I