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Preliminary Town tax hike set at 5.9 per cent 3 ·The IFP· Halton Hills, Tuesday, August 28, 2012 Numerous tax levies leave little wiggle room new firefighters and pay off the new fire station debt; · 0.9 %, Special Infrastructure Levy, for Treasurer Ed DeSousa kicked off the infrastructure improvements; 2013 town budget discussions at last · 0.7%, Library Operating Levy, to help night's (Monday) council meeting, seek- alleviate the dollar impact of opening the ing direction to proceed with new Georgetown library a preliminary budget increase · 0.5%, Arena Levy, to pay of close to six per cent. the debt for the arena addiThe Town's proposed 5.9 tions. per cent hike (a $22 increase The operating base budget per $100,000 of a home's asincrease is only 2.6 per cent-- sesment), combined with a lower than the usual 3 per proposed Region increase of cent in previous years. The 2.7 per cent ($10) and a posbase budget is the amount resible zero per cent education quired to continue the existing increase means an overall operations of the town plus impact on local homeowners' costs previously approved by ED tax bills of 3.3 per cent or $32 council. With the exception of DESOUSA (per $100,000 of assessment). firefighters no new staff will These are preliminary figbe hired, and no programs ures and could change when will be expanded. the capital budget discussion gets under DeSousa said in his report to council way in mid-November and operating bud- that several other factors have influenced get debate begins in mid-January. the budget preparation-- the lowest asBut Town council will not have a lot of sessment growth in the last ten years (only room to manoeuvre if considering cuts. 0.75%), the need to replenish seriously deMore than half the increase is the result of pleted reserves, and the need to spend an levies to pay for town facilities: additional $870,000 for employee wages · 1.2%, Fire Services Levy, to pay for and benefits. By CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer Fall Registration on Now! $5 Off All League Registration Adult or Child *new members onl y LEA LEAGUES EAGUES OPEN TO JOIN: EA Free Shoe · Doubles (Mon.) · Women (Tues. & Wed.) Rental · Mixed Adults (Tues., Wed., Thurs. & Sun.) up to 5 people on public bowling · Seniors (Mon., Tues., Wed., & Fri.) · Kids Age 3-19 (Sat. & Tues.) · All returning and new players welcome e · No experience Necessary · Keep fit bowl a bit! Call for more info 905-877-9922 12 MOUNTAINVIEW RD. S., GEORGETOWN CLEAR OUT EVENT ALL INSTOCK VEHICLES AT Georgetown Honda BEST DEAL! MAKE YOUR Georgetown Bread Basket/Farmers Market Raffle Winners · 2 Toronto Maple Leaf Tickets - Nichole Archer · Overnight Accommodation Marriott - Nichole Archer · 2 Toronto Raptor Tickets - Michael Halsall · 4 TFC Soccer Tickets - Rick Montgomery · 4 Blue Jays Baseball Tickets - Samantha Scroba · Facial, The Spa on Main - Edith Dixon d · Gift Certificate, Mattina's Cucina - Wendy Farrow-Reed by · Hair Cut and Wash, Great Expectations - Hannah Smeby · Gift Certificate, Feet in Motion - Tracey Munden · Lilac Bushes - Matt McGuire Congratulations to all winners and thank you to all participants for making this year's raffle a huge success! Georgetown Bread Basket 55 Sinclair Ave., Unit 12 For more information please call Kevin Flynn 905-873-3368 georgetownhonda.ca 31 Guelph Street, Georgetown 905-873-1818 905-874-3021 HONDA 316