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PAGE 8 THE ACTON MONTHLY VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5 Town of Halton Hills Council passes 2023 Budget; increase of 6.62% The Halton Hills Council, on Feb 13th, approved the 2023 budget for the Town with a blended tat rate increase of 4.26 percent when combined with the tax changes at Halton Region (3.4 percent) and school boards (0 percent). The local Town tax increase is 6.62% including an increase of 1.83 percent for the special levy dedicated towards rising insurance costs and an increase of 0.6% for the infrastructure special levy. The tax rate hike is down from the originally proposed 7.4 percent, prior to Council’s revision of the budget. When it comes to the average residential property in Halton Hills, assessed at $623,500, residents can expect an overall increase of $217.40 in their 2023 property taxes. Halton Hills Mayor Ann Lawlor acknowledges there has been challenges and is happy with Council’s ability in keeping the tax increase lower than originally proposed. “It has been a particularly challenging time, but I applaud our Council for their diligence in providing residents with a restrained tax increase while maintaining the services our community expects.” But Lawlor does note there are still costs out of the Town’s control. “Many of the financial pressures are beyond the control of the municipality such as the rising cost of insurance. This has necessitated the need for an insurance levy for the second year in a row. Simi- larly, the infrastructure levy provides continual investment in assets such as roads and facilities to keep them in a state of good repair.” Key initiatives in the 2023 budget include: Permanent delivery and enhancement of the ActiVan service pilot project providing transportation to the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital Implementing a new automated speed enforcement program The addition of a new Fire Prevention Inspector and aerial ladder truck The municipality’s annual cost of liability insur- ance premiums has grown by 196 percent or $1.4 million over a five-year period. For further details and information regarding the 2023 Budget, you can visit the Town’s website at haltonhills.ca. Daniel Varanelli CPA, CFP 273 Queen St. Acton 519 853-4311 dvaranelli@belinet.ca HILLS IEW Active Living Centre 2023 Memberships now available for only $35! A membership for citizens 50+ includes drop-in programs, fitness, dinner & dances, bingo, special presentations and more! OUR AD IN THE AC OM FOR