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Thursday, February 5, 2015 - The IFP - H alton H ills - w w w .theifp.ca Page 7WWW.BROOKS HEATING AND AIR.CA Thank you for voting Brooks #1 again!no cash value expires Feb 28/15 • Truck Accessories • Upholstery • Heavy Equipment Glass •Window Tinting 354 Guelph Street, Georgetown 905-873-1655 We handle all insurance work. • your window & door professionals • 341 Guelph St., Unit 3 Georgetown 905.873.0236 www.buy-wise.ca info@buy-wise.ca • awarded readers choice 22 times • Visit our showroom COMMENT The way we were An image from just over a century ago shows how natural resources played a role in the town's economy with logging on Limehouse Pond. Images courtesy of Esquesing Historical Society/text Heritage Halton Hills Down the river 'This was truly a team effort.' -- Fire Chief Brent Marshall, pg. 14 Appropriately named Storm loved to play out in the snow that fell during the Groundhog Day storm. About 20- 30 cm of snow clogged roads, drive- ways and sidewalks-- the variation of totals depended on the wind gusts of up to 50 km/h causing high drifts in some locations. Photo by Kerri Chaplin LET'S PLAY From our readers 'Quote unquote' Region approves 2015 budget: focus is on investing On Jan. 28, Regional Council approved the 2015 Budget and Business Plan with a continued focus on investment in the planning and delivery of infrastructure. The Region has made it a strategic prior- ity to invest for the future. That is why we continue to make invest- ments in Regional assets, infrastructure and facili- ties a priority. The 2015 budget in- cludes a significant in- vestment in infrastruc- ture and an increase in the Region's investment in the water, wastewater and transportation State- of-Good-Repair capital programs, from $69 mil- lion in 2007 to $110 mil- lion. Our 2015 budget con- tinues the Region's focus on maintaining service levels, making strategic investments and maintaining the tax rate increase for Regional services within the rate of inflation. The 2015 Budget in- cludes a 1.5 per cent increase in property taxes for Regional programs and services. Here are some highlights of key in- vestments in the 2015 Budget: Investments to Maintain Existing In- frastructure • Significant investments in maintain- ing the State-of-Good-Repair of our in- frastructure and our Asset Management programs including $5.7 million towards Water and Wastewater State-of-Good- Repair. Connecting People to Services • New investments in Public Health and Social Services programs including $1.0 million for additional staff and vehi- cles for Paramedic Services and $200,000 for Crisis Prevention/COMMANDE, a multi-agency initiative committed to the health and safety of the community by providing real-time, co-ordinated re- sponses to high-risk situations. Adapting to Climate Change • A significant expansion to our Emer- gency Management Pro- gram including $5.5 million towards emergency genera- tors in warming and recep- tion centres and $378,000 to increase the Region's capac- ity to respond to emergen- cies; $5.0 million to assist in the implementation of any potential recommendations of the Region-wide Base- ment Flooding Mitigation Study. Economic Growth • $1.0 million towards a Pilot Area Servicing Plan Study for economic devel- opment and intensification to be undertaken in each Local Municipality for the advancement of employment lands and Urban Growth Centre intensification. Financial Stability • Adjustments to help maintain finan- cial stability over the next 10 years. The 2015 Budget approved funding for a new Halton Regional Police Head- quarters on the Halton Regional Centre site in Oakville. The Budget also includes a 4.9 per cent increase in the 2015 Water and Wastewater Rate. Of the 4.9 per cent increase, 1.1 per cent will fund operating costs of Halton's water and wastewater systems to keep Halton's water safe and 3.8 per cent is for investment in treatment plants and pipeline systems. If you'd like to find more about Hal- ton's 2015 Budget, visit Halton.ca/budget or dial 311. Gary Carr is the chair of Halton Region GARY CARR