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Ontario Drug Benefi t Recipients: We will reduce the co-payment on your ODB eligible prescription by $2.00. High-income seniors are responsible for the fi rst $100 deductible. If you need more information, please come in or call us. 300 Guelph Street, Georgetown Pharmacy Direct Line 905-877-8761 Pharmacy Hours Monday - Friday, 9 am - 9 pm Saturday - 9 am - 6 pm, Sunday - 11 am - 5 pm Its about keeping you informed on your health issues, your medication, and how it affects you. wellaware Visit your new Zellers Pharmacy Team! Our staff will be happy to answer any of your questions, or just call to easily transfer your current prescription. Easy prescription transfer* FREE WELL AWARE CLINICS EVERY MONTH! Keeping you informed on your health issues, medication and how it affects you. Medication reminder service - we organize your medications for you the right pill at the right time! In-Store blood pressure testing! We have prescription delivery! We accept all drug plans! *Some exceptions apply, ask our pharmacist! rewards Open Sundays for your Convenience WIN A JAMIESON GIFT BASKET! Fill out the entry for and drop it in the ballot box at the pharmacy counter. Name: Address: Phone: Signature: * No purchase necessary. Prize must be accepted as awarded, has no cash value and is not transferable/refundable. The winner will be notifi ed by telephone Draw Date: October 1, 2008 1 Halton Hills Dr., Halton Hills ON L7G 5G2 Tel.: 905-873-2600 Fax: 905-873-2347 NOTICE TO HALTON HILLS TAXPAYERS The second instalment of the 2008 Final Tax Bill is due on: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2008 PAYMENT OF TAXES WHERE? - Finance Department, Civic Centre (8:30 4:30 Monday to Friday), or - Any branch of the Royal Bank located within the Town of Halton Hills (may be subject to a service charge) - Payments may be left at the Halton Hills Hydro Office (no receipts issued) AFTER HOURS? - Royal Bank branches during scheduled hours of service - Drop Box located next to main entrance of Civic Centre available 24 hours HOW? a) By CHEQUE or CASH b) POST-DATED cheques are acceptable and will ensure that instalment dates are not missed c) INTERAC in person at the Civic Centre d) By TELEPHONE OR COMPUTER: Check with your bank for further information e) PRE-AUTHORIZED PAYMENT PLAN: For details please call the Tax Department at 905-873-2601, ext. 2930 LATE PAYMENTS? - A late payment charge of 1-1/4 per cent per month will be charged on the first day of each calendar month until taxes are paid NO TAX BILL? - Bills were mailed May 30th, 2008. Failure to receive a Tax Bill does not excuse the Owner from responsibility for payment, nor relieve him/her from liability for late payment charges. Please contact the Finance Department if you did not receive yours. NEW PROPERTIES? - Newly built properties are likely to have tax bills related to their land value assessment only until full assessment is applied and supplementary taxes are billed. Owners are responsible for taxes billed and should make provisions for the future billing of supplementary taxes. SENIORS TAX GRANT? - To qualify for the Seniors Tax Grant applicants must be 65 years of age, own and occupy property in the Town of Halton Hills for one year and be in receipt of the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Applications are available from the Tax Department and will automatically be mailed to those who qualified last year. QUESTIONS? - If you have any questions concerning realty property taxes, call the Finance Department at 905-873-2601, ext. 2930, write to us at the address below or check our web site at www.haltonhills.ca - For assessment related questions, please call the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation at 1866-296-6722 or check their web site at www.mpac.ca 111 ________________________________________ NOTICE OF TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE Mill Pond Road from Stewarttown Road to approximately 250 metres south of Stewarttown Road Notice is hereby given that the Town of Halton Hills will be temporarily closing a section of Mill Pond Road from Stewarttown Road to a point approximately 250 metres southerly. Mill Pond Road will be closed to through traffic for a period of ten (10) days commencing on or about September 29, 2008 to facilitate the construction of a waste water main on Mill Pond Road. Mill Pond Road will remain open to local traffic driveway access will be open nightly, some delays expected. Inquiries and comments regarding the proposed temporary road closure should be directed to Mr. S. Grace C.E.T., Manager of Development Engineering, Infrastructure Services at 905-873-2601 extension 2315 or e-mail at steveg@haltonhills.ca. Below is a map showing the location of the road closure: 110 ________________________________________ SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING SUSTAINABLE HALTON A Special Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday September 24, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers regarding Sustainable Halton. This is a chance for the residents of the Town to comment on the growth options for the Town of Halton Hills and to be heard by Council. It is recommended that you register, but all those in attendance who wish to speak will be heard. To register to speak to this matter, please contact Kelly Withers, 905-873-2601 x 2330. A copy of the Sustainable Halton report will be available on the Towns website at www.haltonhills.ca. 112 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, September 19, 2008 11 Region number crunchers considering 3.7% tax hike The Regions financial gurus are already crunching numbers for the 2009 budget, and local residents may not be surprised to hear that taxes are expected to up again. At this point, Region staff has indicated next years hike could be about 3.7 per cent, or $47.13 for the average homeowner based on a $300,000 assessment. The projected increase is comprised of two components $22.13, or 2.6 per cent more for regional services and $25, or 5.8 per cent more for police services. At its meeting Wednesday, regional council approved budget directions that say next years tax increase for regional services shouldnt exceed 2.6 per cent. On the water and sewer rates side, council directed staff to prepare the rate-supported budget on the basis of a 6.7 per cent increase, which would equate to about $48 more on the typical homeowners annual combined water and sewer bill. The 2009 budget guidelines give direction to staff on how to deal with various cost pres- sures, including meeting our infrastructure needs, the rising cost of fuel and changing eco- nomic conditions, said Regional Chair Gary Carr. Haltons multi-year approach to financial planning will ensure our service levels to residents, as well as tax and rate increases, are maintained in a predictable manner. Among the main items driving up taxes are the $4 million more needed for staff compensation, $3.5 million more for capital expenses like roads and $2.5 million for inflationary costs. The phasing out of GTA pooling the system that Halton and other local regions contributed to to help Toronto pay for its social service costs is freeing up about $5.8 million in the Regions budget. Of that, $2.9 million will be transferred to local municipalities for their infrastructure needs, while the remaining $2.9 million will help with the Regions costs for its roads, health and social programs. Carr said the most significant challenge to be addressed in the 2009 budget and business plan relates to financing the Regions infra- structure. Earlier this year, council members learned that the Region needs a whopping $2.5 billion to cover its growth-related infrastructure pro- jects between now and 2021, and more than half of that is required within the next four years. The Region has been advocating to the Province for help with financing its infrastructure needs and was holding out hope that the Provincial-Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery Review would bring about some changes. The review was scheduled for completion this summer, and Region staff delayed bringing forward the 2009 budget directions from July until now in anticipation of an announcement. But the Province has delayed the conclusion of the review and hasnt indicated to the Region when it may be done. Halton did recently learn its slat- ed to receive $22 million from Queens Park for infrastructure as a result of the government passing the Investing in Ontario Act. The provincial funds will be incor- porated into a multi-year financing plan for water, sewer and transporta- tion programs that will be presented to regional council this fall. The plan will also detail the financ- ing responsibilities for local develop- ers and the Region and provide a complete picture of the Regions debt requirements, impacts on reserves and any impacts on taxpayers. Halton staff will continue prepar- ing the 2009 budget over the coming months and present it to regional committees and council for delibera- tions in December. MELANIE HENNESSEY Special to The IFP GARY CARR