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12 THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2005 Region gets Triple A credit rating again Standard & Poor's Rating Services recently reaffirmed Halton Region's AAA credit rating based on the agency's 2005 annual review. buffet; Party Favours 2 Evee local thuttle bus Tickets now on sate at the bar £25 per person Happy New Standard & Poor's is the second independent agency this year to review Halton's credit rating; Moody's In- vestor Service announced Staff Names, left to Right: Reg Marsh, Marlene Marsh, April Fountain & Elaine Daamen The Staff of Reg Marsh & Associates would like to send a Special Thank you to all Individuals and Businesses © for another successful year in 2005. As we begin a new - season in 2006, our Accounting/Tax Preparation firm is here to work for you. Our goal is to guarantee you the best positive results. We look forward to serving you in this new Tax Season and throughout the New year. For © =-your convenience, we are here year round to serve you. THANK YOU Merry Christmas & Year in 2006 SOE: Ns in April 2005 that it would continue to rate Halton as AAA. Halton Region has main- tained an AAA credit for 16 consecutive years, recognized as a significant achievement for a regional municipality. Halton was one of only seven Canadian municipalities to receive an AAA credit rating from Standard & Poor's. The AA credit rating is the highest rating available to any issuer of long-term debt LET US WELCOME YOU! Vetome Wagon. SINCE 1930 ur Our Hostess will bring gifts and greetings, along with helpful information about your new. community. Call Betty Ann 853-1944 HOLIDAY SOUNDS: Students of Rockwood music teacher Debbie Tilson filled the Eden Mills Presbyterian Church with sounds of carols and holiday favourites at the annual Christmas concert on Sunday. -- Frances Niblock photo in North America. Achieving and retaining this credit rat- ing has allowed the Region, the City of Burlington and Towns of Halton Hills, Mil- ton and Oakville, to borrow funds at the lowest possible interest rates. "Standard and Poor's rat- ing reflects Halton's sound financial position and it also reflects the stability and strong financial management of our local municipalities," said Joyce Savoline, Regional Chairman. "Halton residents can have confidence in our strong fiscal management which is based on responsible policies and realistic prac- tices. As always, our budgets are built around maintaining the safety of the Halton com- munity while upholding the quality of life we all enjoy." Standard & Poor's attributes Halton Region's top rating to "very strong economic fundamentals and a tradi- tion of financial prudence". In recognizing the Region's plans to increase its debt load in the next few years to fund large capital infrastructure projects, the agency noted that since the majority. of the funding will come from inter- nal cash reserves, the Region is expected to remain a strong net creditor. "With two recognized credit agencies affirming our Halton Hills Mayor " i Ll eS Wishes Rick Bonnette & Council ¥ Everyone A Merry Christmas & 1 Happy New Years financial practices, Halton is able to continue investing responsibly in our infrastruc- ture to ensure the safety of our water, manage our roads network and prepare for technologies to effectively manage our waste," said Brent Marshall, Chief Ad- ministrative Officer. " Halton has consistently proven itself as a well managed, fiscally solid organization as is evi- dent not only by this rating, but also our 2005 ranking as a Top 100 employer and the world class designation achieved by our customer call centre." Standard & Poor's reported that "the Region's economic advantages and performance are solid, and prospects for the future look very good". "To a great extent, our AAA credit rating is the result of the long-term per- spective Halton takes in its financial planning," said Jane MacCaskill, Commissioner Corporate Services. "This strategy allows us to pro- actively deal with financial pressures and challenges and is great news for all residents of Halton." HOLIDAY HOURS: Closed Mon. & Tues. Dec. 26 &27 RE-OPEN Wednesday Dec. 28th at 8am. 264 MAIN ST. N ACTON