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Thankfully, only her pride was hurt Rachel Cawthorpe (right) receives some moral support from her boyfriend Markus Nilsson as they survey the damage to her Cavalier after it collided with a Chevy Blazer at the Sinclair Ave. and Armstrong Ave. intersection Friday afternoon. Nilsson was working nearby and walked over to consol Cawthorpe. No one was injured in the crash. Photo by Ted Brown Town considers 5.3 per cent tax hike CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer Work began last night (Tuesday) to reduce the proposed 5.3 per cent 2007 Town operating budget hike. Budget committee (all members of council) met to begin the three-week process to whittle down the staff-proposed $22.3 million operating budget, $14.2 million capital budget and $91 million nine-year capital forecast. Staff is recommending an operating budget with a 5.3 per cent increase over last year's budget. That translates to a $49 increase to the average homeowner's tax bill (based on a home assessed at $300,000). The tax bill for 2006 budget Town Region Education TOTAL $930 $1,270 $792 $2,992 2007 budget $979 $1,314 $792 $3,085 $ change $49 $44 $0 $93 % change 5.3 % 3.5 % 0.0 % 3.1 % town services amounts to $979. Region taxes are slated to go up 3.5 per cent ($44) for a total of $1,314. Education taxes remain unchanged at this time at $792. The total combined taxes amount to an overall 3.1 per cent increase ($93). The Town's 5.3 per cent hike includes 2 per cent dedicated tax for the pavement management program and 1.3 per cent for additional firefighters. The remaining amount can be attributed to maintaining existing service levels. The higher cost for utilities, supplies and contracted services has impacted the budget increase, partially offset by an increase in assessment (3.6 per cent or $195,000) in both the residential and non-residential sectors.