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"Unconditional grants are an easy target for reductions at the provincial level," reported Rinaldo, adding should shortfalls not occur, the funds would go to Halton‘s roads program. The 1995 operating funding to regional boards and agencies â€" including police services â€" will stay at 1994 levels. Since 1994, unconditional provincial grants (those not tied to specific programs) were frozen at 1993 levels. In its 1995 budget, the region is allowing for potenâ€" tial $500,000 grant reductions to its taxâ€"supported programs and $450,000 in grant reductions to its utility rateâ€"supported budget. Regional department operating budgets will be flatlined at 1994 levels. The 1995 budget proposals call for no increases in waste dumpâ€" ing fees, municipal recycling fees, or transfer station fees. "This strikes me as a done deal," criticized Oakville counâ€" cilor Keith Bird. New councilors â€" despite the fact they may camâ€" paign on fiscal issues â€" will iniâ€" tially face what Burlington counâ€" cilor Ralph Scholtens called an "intimidation factor." Staff defended the schedule. Chief administrative officer John Burke said the outgoing council would do "the homework," to make its budget recommendation to the new council. Debate also arose over budget process timing, which called for regional council approval of the budget Dec. 21st, shortly after the newly elected council‘s inauâ€" guration. Oakville councilor Stephen Sparling â€" for /. a water/wastewater user rate with a 1.5% increase including the watermain upgrading, but that died as councilors, such as Oakville‘s Fred Oliver, said fire protection was at stake. Dispute also erupted over tarâ€" gets for water and wastewater user rates, which are heading to a 3% increase based on a 1.5% inflation hike and another 1.5% increase for cast iron watermain replacement to upgrade fire proâ€" tection, primarily in south Halton. Councilors said staff could still bring back increase recommendaâ€" tions. "I‘d prefer to see somebody argue for additional dollars to be put in rather than coming in with an increase and fighting to get it back down," said Burlington councilor Robert MaclIsaac. By ANGELA BLACKBURN Special to the Beaver Debate at budget committee, Wednesday, brought in the freeze target, changing a staffâ€"recomâ€" mended 1.5% inflation increase that would have put 0.74% or $2.34 extra on the average Halton residence‘s tax bill. alton Region is targeting a zero per cent property s tax increase in its 1995 operating budget. As debt threatens provincially Allendale was held up as an example. Should the province revoke its subsidies, as regional and federally, regional councilors were clear they didn‘t want to venture further, or anew, into areas where they‘d depend on provincial grants â€" should grants disappear, Halton would be left with the costs. HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED POCKET COILS CONFORM TO YOUR BODY SHAPE AND WEIGHT PROVIDING MAXIMUM COMFORT, SUPPORT AND DURABILITY. SINGLE DOUBLE QUEEN MATTRESS MATTRESS MATTRESS AVAIl ABIE SET $644 4 large storage drawers SET $704 CHEQUES SET $744 Enamei finish "If somebody pulls $1.7â€"milâ€" lion out of Allendale, there will be some hard decisions to be made here, whether to close beds or find some way of funding it," warned Burke. The social serâ€" vices committee is studying councilors fear, the Milton home for the aged will be a financial albatross for Halton. Mon.â€"Wed. Thurs.â€"Fri. Saturdays Sundays (Burlington only) IN KING SIZE 10â€"6 p.m. 10â€"9 p.m. 9â€"6 p.m. 11â€"5 p.m. Rinaldo called senior governâ€" ment grant revenue "a risk." Burlington councilor Ralph Scholtens said the region has fallâ€" en victim to its own habit of takâ€" ing money from the province. "It hasn‘t helped that we keep pushing them to give us help," agreed Rinaldo. Allendale‘s financial status. 246 MAIN ST. E. 878â€"4606 MAIN ST. DANIELLA IRON BED DOUBLE DOUBLE |SPACESAVER BUNK I Available in assorted colours Burlington councilor Tony Whitworth said the region should have a contingency plan if unions aim to "recover" losses when the Social Contract expires in April, 1996. "We‘ve got to face facts, that standards in Canada are too high and they‘re going to have to go down," said Rinaldo. Iron Single over Double Single 1VION A â€" Includes mattress frame ON ANY MATCHING MATTRESS SET SPACESAVER BUNK I1 Sleeps 3 Solid wood single over double