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Spend $$$ from pooling on roads: Region MELANIE HENNESSEY Special to The IFP Should the $6 million Halton expects to save on GTA pooling this year be given back to taxpayers or put into roads? That was the question of the hour at the Region's administration and finance committee Wednesday afternoon, with committee members ultimately endorsing a motion that calls for the funds to be put aside for infrastructure projects. The extra money is a result of the provincial government's recent decision to phase out GTA pooling-- the system that Halton and other local regions contributed to to help Toronto pay for its social service costs. Pooling has cost Halton about $41 million each year, or around $180 for the average taxpayer. Before committee made its decision-- which will go before regional council next week for consideration-- it first heard from Milton resident Gary Ellis, who urged the Region to put the money back in citizens' pockets. "The pooling funds do not belong to the Region. They never did. The Region was merely the tax collector," he said. "The only responsible thing to do is return any freed-up pooling funds to Halton taxpayers." He also suggested that if the Region needs more money, it could cut some current programs or try for an increase at budget time. A lengthy debate among the regional councillors in attendance ensued, with Burlington Councillor Jack Dennison kicking things off. See REGION, pg.5 Hair today, gone tomorrow Halton Hills Regional Councillor Clark Somerville and nine-year-old Rebecca Bath (above) did their part for cancer research by having their heads shaved at Tanners' Restaurant last week, raising close to $2,500 for the Acton Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. Bath, a Robert Little Public School student, collected almost $800 of that total on her own in support of her grandfather Rob, a cancer patient, while Somerville has been buzzed clean a few times before to help raise funds for the cause. Performing the finishing touches is Kristine Cieslok of Blue Springs Spa. Photos by Eamonn Maher