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OPINION Treading water in the budget pool Town council began 2007 budget deliberations this week and we hope by the time meetings wrap up early next month councillors' ears are burning from suggestions on how to spend OUR money. That said, we're not expecting to see a greatly expanded trail system in Town, three new arenas, a downtown underground parking garage or even something as dramatic-- gasp!-- Monday openings for the libraries. Sorry folks, those things cost money and money is something the Town doesn't have in surplus. Undoubtedly, many community groups and citizens have wish lists this year but Town Finance Director Ed DeSousa has already told council members there's little room for extras in this year's budgets-- not if they want to keep to the proposed 5.3 per cent hike. That hike represents a $49 hit to the average homeowner in 2007. For the past several years Halton Hills councillors-- like those in many municipalities-- have opted, for the most part, to tread water when jumping into the budget pool. Money for big ticket items now has to be accumulated over a period of years, department heads look under every rock for savings and cuts to the budgets far outnumber the additions (heck this year they're even considering porta-potties for the Fairgrounds and Prospect Park). The end purpose is to offer Joe Taxpayer a tax hike that will hit him just hard enough in the wallet that he knows someone was there, but not enough for him to file a police report. "No" is a word many community members may be hearing in coming days from our council members. It's a word they may have to get used to. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Sacrifice is needed for a better planet Dear editor, Cleaning up the environment is indeed a critical issue. Experts such as David Suzuki have predicted that we have maximum 10 years in which to get rid of pollution. After that it will be too late. No doubt the federal government's recent proposals will be somewhat helpful; certainly the intention is good. Unfortunately, it is probably too little too late. While politicians were haggling over whose ideas were best, the planet has been dying little by little. The public, while demanding government `do something' about the environment, would never stand for the mandatory restrictions that would be necessary to make a difference. Remember Premier Dalton McGuinty's warning to `leave the auto industry alone'? Remember when gas prices went unacceptably high? We didn't see many motorists slowing down. People want action taken, but they don't seem to be willing to give up any part of their conveniences and luxuries to be part of the solution. More energy-efficient homes, recycling, smoking bans and poop-scooping will not get the job of cleaning up the environment done. To affect real change, vehicle useage and manufacturing will have to take a hit. Experts have further stated that government cannot control pollution and climate change. Only the people themselves can do it. Do the people have the will? Not likely! There is much we could do on a personal level if we are serious about healing the damage we have done to our planet. We could shut off the lights, turn down the heat and the air conditioning. We could use more manual tools and appliances; fewer gas and electric-powered. We could use fewer chemicals; more natural products. We could boycott products that are shrink-wrapped and/or dangerous to the environment in both manufacturing and disposal. We could use more glass containers; fewer plastics. And best of all, we could limit the use of our vehicles to necessity. Every little bit helps. Experts have issued the warning; we have to change our lifestyle now. If we wait for the invention of environmentally-friendly products at some distant future time which will still allow us to continue our wasteful lifestyle, our future is doomed. Eileen Hutcheson, Acton Teen's lament: Too many grocery stores Dear editor, I'm a 13-year-old resident of Georgetown. I have lived here all my life. Not only do I love this town but I love the people. I cant believe we have a huge Superstore now, but didn't we just get a Price Choppers and don't we already have an A&P and a Food Basics store? That is just too many grocery stores. What I don't get is, that we have so many grocery stores but not a large movie theatre. Speaking as a teen from Georgetown, we kids need more fun than a brand new store in the mall or a tiny cinema. I know that costs money, but so did the two new grocery stores that were just built. Most of our parents don't have the time to drive their kids to the movie theatre in Brampton. But hey, at least they have the time to drive to one of the many grocery stores we have. In conclusion, I think that you should take into consideration that the kids of Georgetown don't have much to do and a new movie theatre would be greatly appreciated (and maybe a few more clothing stores.) Brianne K. Shirt, Georgetown Reader asks why current `best and brightest' MPPs are eligible for pay hike? Dear editor, Re: Area MPPs defend 25% salary hike (Dec. 15 Independent & Free Press). If MPPs Ted Chudleigh and Ted Arnott are correct, and we do need to hike MPPs' salary by 25% to help draw the "best and the brightest" into the next election, then why are the current bunch of politicians eligible for the increase? Jason Lediard, Limehouse