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Thursday, A ugust 27, 2015 - The IFP - H alton H ills - w w w .theifp.ca Page 3 2009 Pontiac G5 SE + HST/LIC • Auto/4 cyl • Certified & E-tested • A/C • Spoiler • Power Trunk • Sunroof/Moonroof • Cruise Control $7,900 2006 Pontiac G6 GT $6,700 + HST/LIC • Auto/6 cyl • Certified & E-Tested • Bucket Seats • Alloy Wheels • AM/FM CD Player • Cruise Control e-mail: hassellsauto@bellnet.ca www.hassellautomotive.com 2013 Chevrolet Malibu LS • Auto/4 cyl • Certified & E-tested • A/C • Power Windows/ Steering • Traction Control • Cruise Control $14,500 + HST/LIC CALL 2008 Dodge Caliber SXT • Auto/4 cyl • Certified & E-tested • Fog Lights • Keyless Entry • Power Door Locks • Cruise Control $6,500 + HST/LIC 45 Mountainview Road North Georgetown, Ontario 905.877.7958 NEWS business," DeSousa remarked. A staff report to council detailed pressures on the budget, which in- clude an additional $1.2 million needed for staff compensation adjustments, a seven per cent in- crease in hydro charges for facili- ties totalling $124,400 and an in- surance premium hike of $111,000 due to inflation and higher claims settlements. The report also discusses the need to replenish the Town's reserve funds to the tune of $360,000-- a number that hasn't been included in the budget yet as it would take the tax increase above and beyond the 3.9 per cent guideline. DeSousa said including the re- serve contribution would up the tax increase to 4.8 per cent, which trans- lates into an additional $12 for the average Halton Hills homeowner. Ward 4 Councillor Ann Lawlor raised concerns about leaving the reserve funds out. "From my perspective, I feel that (contributing to reserves) is really good management," she said. "I hope we're able to contin- ue to make some contributions to those reserve funds." The sentiment was shared by others around the table, like Ward 3 Councillor Moya Johnson and Wards 3 and 4 Regional Councillor Jane Fogal. "I think it's a mistake. We cut it back last year, and then this year we're going to zero. That's not good," said Fogal. "Personally I would set it (the levy increase) higher to meet our long-range fi- nancial plans." Halton Hills CAO Brent Mar- shall assured council that senior staff will be taking a close look at the issue and addressing it as bud- get preparations move forward. "We believe we have an oppor- tunity to do something about the lack of contributions to various re- serves," he said. "We're being very diligent about this. We're being very serious about this." Staff also briefly outlined de- tails of the 2016-2025 capital bud- get and forecast, which projects a $12 million budget for next year and approximately $15 million per year thereafter. While the operat- ing budget covers service delivery, the capital budget funds the cost of building and renewing municipal facilities and infrastructure. Re- serves are a major source of fund- ing for capital projects, along with development charges. The budget will be back on the table for the budget committee and council's consideration in No- vember and December. Residents can delegate to the budget review committee on two days-- November 11 for the capi- tal budget and December 7 for the operating budget. Once ready, the budget documents will be avail- able for viewing at the library or through the Town finance depart- ment. Council will consider the capi- tal budget at its Nov. 30 meeting and the operating budget at its Dec.14 session. After both budgets are ap- proved by council, summary infor- mation will be available at www. haltonhills.ca. Lack of contribution to reserves worries councillors Graphic courtesy of Town of Halton Hills Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr and members of Regional and local councils met with provincial leaders last week to discuss critical issues impacting Halton Region. The discussions, which took place at the Association of Municipalities of On- tario (AMO) annual conference in Niag- ara Falls, from Aug. 16-19, highlighted the significant challenges Halton Region faces with the mandated growth targets set out in the Provinces Places to Grow Act. "We continue to emphasize to pro- vincial leaders the pressing need to find solutions to ensure the Region can meet growth targets," said Carr in a press re- lease. "Halton is mandated to grow to 780,000 by the year 2031, which means the Region needs long-term funding and leg- islative tools to ensure that taxpayers are not responsible for the financial impacts of growth." Carr, along with Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette, Oakville Mayor Rob Bur- ton, Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring, Mil- ton Mayor Gordon Krantz and a number of Regional and local councillors met with Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Ted McMeekin, to discuss the need to cre- ate affordable housing solutions and con- formity with provincial growth legislation. They also met with: • Education Minister Liz Sandals to discuss the need for long-term funding to support new schools; • Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca to discuss Halton's community in- frastructure needs including GO train ser- vice in Milton and Halton Hills; • Parliamentary Assistant to the Minis- ter of Natural Resources and Forestry and Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon to discuss Conservation Authority funding and aggregate resources legislation; • Attorney General Madeleine Meilleur to discuss Halton's immediate need for a new courthouse in Milton; and • Environment and Climate Change Minister Glen Murray to discuss waste management legislation and adapting and responding to climate change. Halton raises growth-related issues at AMO By Julia Le Metroland Media Group Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr and members of Regional and local councils met with provincial leaders last week at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) annual conference in Niagara Falls, from Aug. 16-19 to discuss critical issues impacting Halton Region. File photo Continued from page 1