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50 cents (+GST) Circulation 22,500 Wednesday, September 17, 2008 44 Pages www.independentfreepress.com Acton student to hit 22 ports on floating classroom this school year Page 3 Home, Lawn & Energy special section 8-Pages Raiders home woes continue Page 16 Diversity March held in downtown Page 8 INSIDE Its still early in the game, but staff asked for and received approval from Halton Hills council to begin preparing the 2009 oper- ating and capital budgets that could mean an $81 increase on next years tax bills. Town Treasurer Ed DeSousa outlined the financial challenges facing the town at Mondays council meeting, when defining his need for a 7.5 per cent town budget increase. That represents a $26.9 million operating bud- get $1,155 for each property owner with homes assessed at $300,000, $81 over last years budget. The increase which could change in the coming months reflects a 4.3 per cent base budget increase, a 1.2 per cent Fire Services Levy, 1.2 per cent Special Infrastructure Levy, plus a new 0.8 per cent Library Operating Levy. Combined with expected Halton Region and school board tax increases, the overall tax impact on the average homeowner with a prop- erty assessed at $300,000 will be 4.1 per cent or $130. We always come out with budget directions at this time of year, but that doesnt mean those will be the numbers come January ... well have lots of time to discuss num- bers and figures, etc, said Mayor Rick Bonnette. It is a tough time. Every year it has been tougher. Last year its getting more difficult with the low growth, and growth not paying for itself. Editorial 6 Sports 15, 16 Calendar 17, 19 Entertainment 18 Classifieds 20-22 Council votes the cash to get the Cultural C e n t r e / G e o r g e t o w n library project rolling again, but not without some debate ... read about it in Fridays edi- tion. FRIDAY... REFINANCING? PURCHASING? BOB WOODS Mortgage Specialist (905) 877-1490 *Rate subject to change 360 Guelph St., Georgetown 5.14%. 5 YR FIXED (905) 873-1655 354 Guelph Street, Georgetown APPLE Auto Glass Truck Accessories Upholstery Heavy Equipment Glass Window Tinting GEORGETOWN CHRYSLER We handle all insurance work. Georgetown Kia 905-877-7818 The Power to SurpriseTM Goodbye 2008s. 4 A K E T H E S Q U I R R E L S W I T H Y O U KIA SUMMER CLEARANCE OUR LOWEST PRICES OF THE YEAR FINAL DAYS 0% FINANCING FOR72 MONTHS ON SELECT 2008 MODELS 2 Locations 314 Guelph St. (Hwy. 7) Superstore Open Sundays 199 Guelph St. 905-877-8375 For breaking news go to: www.independentfreepress.com Halton Hills award-winning newspaper Going all out for Terry Fox The annual Terry Fox Runs for cancer research were held Sunday in Acton and Georgetown. (above) Kaitlyn Bell, 14, of Speyside runs past the start/finish line at the Acton run held at Acton High School. (Right) At the Georgetown event held at the Gellert Community Centre par- ticipants (from left) Allison Sippel, 9, Jane Opie, Meghan Sippel, 9, and Brad Sippel of Georgetown make a donation. The Acton event, with more than 150 participants raised $22,500, with more expected in the coming days, while the Georgetown event drew 418 peo- ple and raised $21,000. Photos by Brian LeVoguer Preliminary Town tax hike set at 7.5% CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer See CAPITAL, pg. 3 2009 Projected budget