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•The IFP• Halton Hills, Thursday, N ovem ber 21, 2013 3 Our 14th Annual To book an Appointment, please call: 905-877-7958 or www.hassellautomotive.com As our thank-you to all of our great customers, regulars and new, please accept from us: 45 MOUNTAINV IEW RD. N . , GEORGETOWN AUTOMOTIVE SALES & SERVICE 12-pack of Pop • $5. Tim Horton's gift card • Jug of Windshield Washer Fluid Our 14th Annual Change engine oil & filter, lubricate (excluding synthetic) Rotate & balance tires as necessary Check all fluid levels Check brakes, steering, suspension, exhaust & fuel system Check vehicle for tune-up Scan computer for codes • • • • • • Homeowners will also pay an addition- al $35 in combined water and utilities next year on average. A projected 1.5 per cent increase in as- sessment is being used to offset costs to keep the non-police costs down to a zero increase for the Region's tax supported programs and services. Regional taxes pay for a variety of Hal- ton services such as water and wastewa- ter, regional roads and planning, para- medic services, public health and social assistance, various children's and seniors' services, non-profit housing, heritage pro- grams and emergency management and economic development. Although the 1.5 per cent increase as- sessment isn't carved in stone, Scinocca said he's confident the projection is solid. Several months ago councillors direct- ed finance officials to create a budget of either at or below the rate of inflation and no more than a 1.5 per cent increase. "This will be the eighth consecutive year we have had an average zero per cent increase," Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr said in a news release issued after the budget proposal was presented. "It is a remarkable achievement to be able to maintain service levels without increasing taxes and while maintaining our triple A credit rating. "A triple A credit rating combined with our low taxes makes Halton a great place to do business and results in jobs for our community from companies such as Low- es, Target, Siemens, Toronto Premium Outlets and Gypsum Technologies Inc." Scinocca said the zero per cent tax increase was achieved by "enhancing or maintaining" Halton's core services." For many of the programs delivered by Halton, there was no increase in costs. Increased revenues and higher than ex- pected provincial subsidies also helped achieve the zero per cent tax increase, Scinocca said. The Region will see a reduction of $356,000 in social service costs primarily because of additional provincial subsidies and a 14 per cent decrease in caseloads, Scinocca said. The proposed budget also maintains the Region's continuation of its $3 billion capital program over the next 10 years. A $6.2 million expenditure on improvements and expansion to the Town's public works complex was hailed during budget committee's 2014 capital budget meeting last week. Budget committee (all members of council) approved the $19.2 million capital budget without adding or deleting any of the 76 staff recommended items-- the de- cision still needs to be ratified by council. Discussions on the 2014-operating budget begin in January. Budget committee chair Moya John- son thanked staff for a budget that made "our jobs easy" but noted there was likely heated discussions by departments when selecting priority items. The largest dollar capital project sched- uled for 2014 is the $6.2 million on the Robert C. Austin Operations Centre complex, including park- ing lot and stormwater management system. Mon- ey to pay for it will come from gas tax revenues, reserves and public works and roads development charges. There are currently health and safety is- sues with the mechanical facilities prompting Councillor Michael O'Leary to say the facility's de- terioration made him want to take a shower after a recent tour. The new Operations facility-- built to LEED standard-- will be designed to accommodate the Town's population growth and will include new mechanical bays, employee change rooms, lunch- room, demolition and replacement of the stores building, and office space to replace the temporary trailer offices. Five other large ticket items include: • $2.2 million for pavement management proj- ects (Dawson, Irwin, Eden Place, Mackenzie, Lew- is, Weber); • $1.88 million additional for the Acton Arena twinning construction that includes a cost escalation from the original 2010 construction cost ($10.3 million), cost of LEED certification and possible integra- tion of the skate park; • $830,000 Fourth Line (from 10 Sid- eroad to 15 Sideroad), upgrade to asphalt; • $725,000, 17 Sideroad asphalt resur- facing; • $506,000, equipment replacement; • $500,000 to develop buy/lease part- nership projects to enhance the Seniors Centres as well as youth centre initiatives. Recre- ation and Parks Director Terry Alyman said the Town is working on a solution for additional space for the Georgetown Seniors Centre. Other items up for approval include a traffic sig- nal light at 15 Sideroad/Eighth Line intersection; eastbound right turn lane on Guelph St. into GDHS at Albert St., Mill St Acton improvements, bike lanes on Miller Dr., Chris Walker Trail improve- ments and various parks upgrades. For a complete list of the 2014 capital budget's 76 approved items go to The IFP's website, www. theifp.ca A prickly high-five Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games mascot PACHI the Porcupine dropped by Pineview Public School for a visit recently after some Pineview students had entered designs for the mascot. As PACHI danced at the front of the assembly, student Elnathan Paudel gave PACHI the 'high-five'. Photo by Ted Brown Committee okays $19M capital budget Carr says eighth straight year with zero per cent increase is 'remarkable' Continued from pg. 1 By CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer MOYA JOHNSON 03_03_V1_GEO_NOV21.indd 1 13-11-20 4:12 PM