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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2005 THE NEW TANNER 13 3.6% tax hike in Region budget Halton Regional Coun- cil unanimously approved the 2006 Operating and Capital Budget, resulting in a property tax increase of 2.6 per cent for Regional programs and services and a 6.0 per cent increase for police services for an over- all property tax increase of 3.6 per cent. The Budget also includes a 7.2 per cent rate increase for water and sewer utili- ties. For a typical homeowner in Halton with a property assessed at $300,000, the property tax increase will be approximately $24.15 for Regional programs and approximately $24.09 for police services for an overall increase of approxi- mately $48.24 per year. The combined water and sewer bill will increase by approximately $43.62 or $16.08 per $100,000 of as- sessment. "In developing the 2006 Budget and Business Plan, we remained committed 40 balancing the needs of our community with the im- pacts to Halton residents," said Halton Regional Chair- man Joyce Savoline. "In fact this summer Regional Council set the planning guidelines for the Tax Bud- get at a 3.3 per cent increase (excluding Police Services) and staff were successful in reducing the tax impact to 2.6 per cent after apply- ing Halton's portion of the Federal Gas Tax money to identified capital projects that meet the program crite- ria of sustainable municipal infrastructure." The Federal Gas Tax Agreement is a cost sharing initiative that will see more than $30 million directed to Halton Region over the next five years to: support environmental initiatives based on the criteria of im- proving the quality of the environment and contribut- ing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, clean water or clean air through invest- ments in public transit, water systems, wastewa- ter systems, solid waste, Water, sewer bill up by 16.08 per $100,000 of assessment community energy systems and local roads, bridges and tunnels or other active transportation infrastruc- ture. Halton's projects will include road widening to alleviate traffic congestion through the implementa- tion of high occupancy vehicle lanes and cycling facilities. "This budget is based on sound financial plan- ning, transparency and accountability," stated Chief Administrative Offi- cer Brent Marshall. "This is arealistic and practical bud- get predicated on Halton's solid financial practices of upholding the quality of life of our residents while plan- ning for our community's future.needs." . The Region's three-year strategic plan provided the basis for determining the 2006 priorities. Priorities driving the tax supported 2006 budget include: e $65.3 million for the Transportation capital program, which focuses on reducing impacts on the environment, improving the regional road system and meeting travel demands using existing infrastructure and by providing facilities and services to encour- age alternate transportation methods such as cycling facilities. e $1.4 million to annualize the operating costs of Creek Way Village, which opened in Burlington in September 2005. In total, including Allendale, Halton now provides 572 long- term care beds. e $1.9 million for Ambulance Services which includes implementation of the Emergency Medical Ser- vices master plan approved in 2005 and an additional 5.4 FTE paramedics for Creek Way Village to in- crease the service from 12 hours per day to 24 hours per day. joyous ia season and a wonderful 200¢ Mich el Chiang Authorized by the Official Agent for Michael Chong Priorities driving the rate supported 2006 budget in- clude: e $1.1 million to implement process im- provements to the South Halton Water Purification plants. The process im- provements will consist of the further introduction of actiflow and ozonation technology in Oakville, which is currently being used at the Burlington Wa- ter Purification Plant. e $5.4 million to wa- ter and wastewater mains relating to QEW widen- ing. ° $4.3 million for water and wastewater plant maintenance capital pro- gram. ° $3.8 million to upgrade the Oakville South- East Wastewater Treatment Plant. Halton Region is also responsible for the manage- ment and delivery of water and sewer services. 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