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= M COUNCIL COUNCIL APPROVES BUDGET WITH 4.5 PER CENT TAX INCREASE mhennessey@ = metroland.com They may not all have 7 been happy about it, but = 2 themajorityof. ‘Halton Hills councillors voted in favour 3 ofthe 2022 town budget this eek. 5 & ¢ 3 § MELANIE HENNESSEY a 5 3 8 = ” Ina9-2 vote Dec. 13, next increase were approved by council, with councillors Clark Somerville and Bry- an Lewis opposed. This figure includes a new 0.67 per cent dedicated levy toassist with rising in- surance costs and a 0.6 per cent special levy increase to address the infrastruc- ture gap. The hike equates to an additional $103.80 on the based on the average as- sessed value of $623,500 for a single family home in Halton Hills. Local residents ao Pay taxes to Halton with regional ee con sidering a 2.2 per cent rise in taxes on Dec. 15 — and the local school boards, which are both anticipat- ingno tax increases in 2022. With the town, region and school boards com- bined, the overall blended tax rateincrease for Halton Hills residents is 2.86 per cent, or a little more than $140 per year. While Halton Hills bud- get deliberations carried on for two days last week, in the end local councillors only voted in favour of a couple minor changes to the document. “We took out two items of nickels and dimes in overall value," said Lewis, who once again expressed his concern about hiring new staff when local resi- dents and businesses are trying to recover from fi- nancial aac dealt by the indemic. better time to hold the aiste and not hire as many as 15 peo- ple?" Somerville shared simi- . But the opposed to the budget didn't sit well with Coun. Jane Fogal. "When people don't agree with the budget, they udget dur- ing the budget discussion," she said. “If you don't want as many staff, then start picking things you don't want. You can't just leave it out there and say 'no, Idon't approve."" Somerville contended that council “doesn't have the will to make budget cuts," explaining that he proposed a $15,000 cut to the library budget last Graham Paine/Metroland According to Halton Hills staff, insurance costs are driving up next year's budget. a notion that was quickly shot down by other — to illustrate his point. Others around the council table voiced their support for the overall bud- get, including Coun. Moya Johnson, who noted the tax increa: forks out to about rs a week extra for the average household. "I don't think $2 a week isa lot to ask of people," she said. Mayor Rick Bonnette said he feels staff brought forward a budget that's “reasonable and realistic." He added that while the surance premiums ant surance Board (WSIB) self- combined _impat $843,000 on the 2022 dee “[remind the communi- ty that we have supported the advocacy efforts of the Association of Municipali- ties (of Ontario) in calling on the province to take ac- ‘SCAN THIS CODE for more local Boucher & Sons Aluminum Ltd. 905-877-8830