The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, D ec em be r 17 ,2 02 0 | 8 ASK THE PROFESSIONAL 33 Main Street South Acton, ON L7J 1X3 Tel: 519-853-1330 Fax: 519-853-4645 Email: Mark@mchlawyers.com Mark Hilliard Mackenzie Chapman Hilliard Barristers and Solicitors The advice offered in this column is intended for informational purposes only. Use of this column is not intended to replace or substitute any professional, financial, medical, legal, or other professional advice. We work for you. legal matters Q A REAL ESTATE LAW What is bridge financing? A bridge loan is a temporary loan obtained when the closing date for your purchase comes before the closing date for your sale. Usually, when you are buying and selling, you rely on the sale proceeds to fund the purchase. Often you will arrange both closing dates to be on the same day, so your sale closes and then you are able to close your purchase. However, if you would like to close your purchase before your sale, you would obtain a bridge loan for the time in between, whether it is for just one day or a number of weeks. The interest rate is a little higher than it would be for conventional bank mortgage, but the benefits may be worth the extra cost. For instance, this process allows you to stretch out your moving-in over more than one day. Also, it avoids the dilemma of having your sale not go through quickly or at all, which results in your purchase being delayed or derailed. 905-877-8500 •www.devereauxcemetery.ca A Final Gift to Your Family Main Office: 600 Spring Gardens Road, Burlington Owned & Operated by The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of the Diocese of Hamilton in Ontario Cemetery Address: 12337 17th Side Road, Georgetown Prearranging your burial or cremation is the last gift you can give your family. It releases them from having to quickly make decisions in their time of grief. It also frees them from the need to pay costs associated with your cemetery arrangements. Contact one of our family counsellors to discuss your wishes and options. Have yourself a very British Christmas! www.mi l l e rssco t t i shbakery.com 905877-0596330 Guelph St Georgetown Miller's Scottish Bakery Holiday Hours: Dec 24th 9:30am - 4pm • CLOSED Dec 25, 26, 27 & 28th. Dec 29 & 30 regular hours • Dec 31st (New Years Eve) 10am - 4pm January 1, 2, 3, 4 CLOSED WE ARE OPEN TO SERVE YOU!! Tues & Sat 9:30-6:00, Wed-Fri 10:00-6:30, Sun 11:00-4:00, CLOSED Mon Come and see our British imported groceries, sweets and cheese! Gifts, Jewellery, Meats and of course our made in house British Baked Goods! Pre-order your fresh Baked Breads & Buns! We are now taking orders for Christmas and Hogmanay!! The Town of Halton Hills has approved the 2021 budget with a local tax in- crease of 3.9 per cent. This increase is expec- ted to result in a 2.4 per cent increase to the blended tax rate when combined with forecasted tax changes at Halton Region and the school board levels. Overall, based on 2016 MPAC's Current Value As- sessment of $623,500 for the average residential proper- ty, Halton Hills residents can expect to see their property taxes increased by about $118 in 2021. With the rate approved at the Dec. 6 Budget Com- mittee meeting, the Town Council will ratify the deci- sion next week. "Despite challenges of having the lowest assess- ment growth in three years, a 46 per cent in- crease in insurance premi- ums, and lower user fee revenues," Moya Leighton, Town Treasurer said, "Town staff has been suc- cessful in presenting a bud- get that recognizes Coun- cil's priorities, preserves cash flow and advances key initiatives." The impacts of CO- VID-19 would be tracked outside of the budget and the municipality would le- verage all available fund- ing from the provincial and federal governments. Through 2021, the Town will continue to reduce costs where possible to match changes in revenue, defer the capital program to manage cash flows and draw on reserves to fund shortfalls. "I recognize this has been a challenging year with the impacts of CO- VID-19 adding an addition- al layer of pressure," May- or Rick Bonnette said. "I am very pleased with the work that staff has done to put forward a realistic and reasonable budget that meets the needs of this community." Last year, the Town ap- proved the lowest tax-levy increase since 2001, at 3.1 per cent. COUNCIL TOWN APPROVES 3.9 PER CENT TAX INCREASE BRYAN MYERS bmyers@metroland.com Halton Hills residents can expect to see their property taxes increased by about $118 in 2021. Metroland file photo