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www.independentfreepress.com Editorial..................... 6 Sports ....................... 7 Calendar .................. 8 Classifieds ... 10, 11 Directory ............... 11 50 Cents (+ GST) Circulation: 22,800 A DARLING DEAL Limehouse teen volleyball player to suit up for Syracuse Orange PAGE 7 BRIDES 2011 Look inside for the latest wedding trends for this year 4-PAGE SECTION 24 Pages Halton Hills' award-winning newspaper THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS By CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer After a two-week rethink, Halton Hills council did some finetuning on its $30.5 million 2011operating budget before approval at last week's council meeting. Chopping eight programs, totalling $88,400, council managed to reduce the budget from a 6.5% increase to 6.2%-- or a reduction of $1 per $100,000 of assessment. The 6.2% translates into a $22 hike (per $100,000 of assessment) on household property bills for Town services. Combined with the Region's $1.4% tax increase ($6/$100,000 of assessment) and the education taxes (not yet known, but presumed to be a $0 increase), the overall tax impact on homeowners will be 2.8 per cent increase or $28/$100,000 of assessment (For a home assessed at $300,000 that's $84 more than last year and for a home assessed at $400,000 that's $112 more). TUESDAY, February 1, 2011 Council fine-tunes $30.5M capital budget Homeowners will pay $1,022/$100,000 of assessment in overall taxes this year. The first due date for those paying quarterly is coming up at the end of the month. Mayor Rick Bonnette described it as a very unusual year with a lot of different pressures such as the arenas and the hospital contribution. "It's never easy doing budgets, especially in a very difficult time, and this has been a very difficult budget and it's hard to cut things," he said. "Fortunately the Region has come in at a reasonable rate that can offset it." After thinking it through, he said, the mayor brought forward projects which could be delayed for a year. "Each and every project are worthwhile... but this is a difficult time and we just can't do everything." He offered up five projects totalling $66,400 in the operating See COUNCIL, pg. 4 A cure for cabin fever Hayley O'Hara, 2, receives a helping hand from mom Krista as they enjoy the craft activities at Cabin Fever Busters, held Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon at the Georgetown Community Church (Salvation Army) on 271 Mountainview Road South. The program welcomes parents and children, infants to 5 years old, and features various kids' activities and refreshments, snacks and socializing for all. For more info call 905-877-1374. Photo by Ted Brown Web Poll A current funding plan would see the Town of Halton Hills go $25 million in debt to finance the construction of three new ice surfaces. As a Halton Hills taxpayer do you support this spending plan? Vote online at: www.independentfreepress.com Major snowstorm bearing down on GTA for Tuesday/Wednesday The worst snowstorm in at least two years is heading for southern Ontario, according to Environment Canada. Starting around noon today (Tuesday), between 20 and 30 centimetres of snow-- nearly a foot-- is expected to hit the Greater Toronto Area. Heavy snowfall and gusting winds will increase late into the night and continue into early Wednesday. So far this winter, the most snowfall the GTA has seen in one day is 11 cm. Last winter, it was 9.6 cm in one day. Vi s i t o u r s h o w r o o m 7e HANDLE ALL INSURANCE work. sTruck Accessories s5PHOLSTEry s(Eavy %QUIPMENT 'LASS s7INDow 4INTING 354 Guelph Street, Georgetown (905) 873-1655 33 MOUNTAINVIEW RD. N., GEORGETOWN 905-877-6944 · your window & door professionals · 341 Guelph St., Unit 3 Georgetown 905.873.0236 www.buy-wise.ca info@buy-wise.ca · awarded readers choice 14 times ·