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2 § 8 R a 3 i Ay g - 2 E < 2 = 2 a £ 2 é theifp.ca ON NOW AT THE BRICK! Ee: FRIDAY am SUNDAY SAVING YOU MORE Visit thebrick.com for more details and locations. David J. Ashbee Helsons LLP is a firm of 10 Lawyers. We trace our firm back to 1885 in Georgetown, Ontario Frederick A. Helson (1921-2018) lan W. Kogon (ret seied) Steven D. Kogon Caley E. Power Jessica A. Krause Jasmine M. Spudic Nicole E, Kucherenko Fiona A. Japaul Alex G. Walsh Nancy L. Camnwath (retired) COVID and the Courts ASK THE PROFESSIONAL Have the courts become a bad option to solve matrimonial disputes? Early in COVID days I thought great we have Zoom meetings with the courts and avoid travel and sitting around the courts waiting for our tui yeak with the Judge. Pre-covid Judges would have 1: cases on motion day and they would with all normally over 3 t urs. You would book COVID has interfered with this as now each imation gets their own time. The problem is the courts can’t schedule 15 or 20 motions any one of which coul ean hour, so, they schedule 4 or 5 leaving 10 to 15 files for another date. It has not ken long for courts to back up and eee motions to have the first date available 2 or 3 months later nie ars, Mediation on may be your re alternative but only if both parties Helsons LLP Barristers and Solicitors 132 Mill Street, Georgetown, Ontario L7G 2C6 Tel: (905) 877 35 Mill Street East Acton, Ontario L7J 1H1 Tel: (519) 929-9333 Email: info@helsons.ca Web: www-helsons.ca is READERS’ ee KK HALTON HILLS AN chamber of Commerce 2018 Large Business of the Year replace or substitute any retessiona financial, medical, legal, or other professional a advice. COUNCIL TOWN BUDGET COMMITTEE ENDORSES 4.5 PER CENT TAX INCREASE COUNCIL TO MAKE FINAL DECISION NEXT WEEK MELANIE HENNESSEY mhennessey@ metroland.com Local residents can ex- pect to pay about $100 more onthe town ee of their tax bill next After much deliberation ed a 4.57 per cent tax increase for 2022. This fi; ure includes a new 0.67 per cent dedicated levy to as- sist with rising insurance costs and a 0.6 per cent spe- cial levy increase to ad- dress the infrastructure gap. The hike translates into an additional $103.80 on the town portion of a typical homeowner's’ tax bill, based on the average as- sessed yale of $623,500 for a single ily home in Halton Hills The budget will now go to council for final consid- eration Dec. 13. Not everyone around the committee table was in favour of the figures pre- sented, with Councillor Lewis _ voting against the budget. is might have been the time to say we have to show a little bit more re- raint (in spending)," he sa, question whether in the budget is a a necessity, such as hiring a dozen new staff. "Well 're forcing people to leave our community and go elsewhere because they can no longer afford to live here.” According to Town staff, one of the key pres- sures on the 2022 budget is the steep rise in liability in- surance premiums and WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) self- insurance costs, which have a combined impact of $843,000. Council combed over the budget for savings and proposed several changes, such 2 as: ostponing activities/ contract related to the town's equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) efforts, along with truth and recon- ciliation (TRC) — a sugges- tion from Councillor Ann Lawlor, who ultimately made no formal motion to do so. “Those are not core ser- vices that we have tradi- tionally provided," she said, noting library is already doing work in both are: “That 's not to say they're not imp portant, because they are oA motion from Coun- cillor Clark Somerville to fund $45,000 in EDI and TRC implementation from the tax rate stabilization reserve, versus tax dollars, which was endorsed by the committee. This lowered the tax increase from 4.65 per cent to 4.57. Elimination of $15,000 earmal to keep library branches Sion on Sundays stations. hearing opposition to the cut from fellow committee members, Somerville with- drew his motion. oval of a $50,0 bike am feasibility ne (funded from capital re- serves, not tax dollars), with the matter instead be- ing referred to the active transportation committee for feedback — a moti from Councillor anc cling advocate Jane Fogal that was approved. SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT THEIF! PCA 3 Months Free Book a tour and see what a wonderful life in retirement can be! Reserve before Dec. 31, Move in dates up to March 31, 2022 MILTON 905-636-6300 Call to book a tour and learn more about terms and conditions 2021