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4- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 28, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com BEST QUALITY Libraries need longer hours LOWEST PRICE! r Continued from page 1 fo over 30 years! Water Filtration System · 5 micron sediment filter · GAC Cartridge · Lever style faucet · Faucet mounting bracket · Tubing · Feed Valve · Housing wrench Shop-Vac The handy wet/dry vac that goes anywhere! Central Vac Lifetime Warranty · Permanent SelfCleaning Filter with Bag Option · All-Steel Canister · Whisper-quiet operation · Electric Power Head, Hose and 10-Piece tool set · 112" of Waterlift · Cleans homes up to 4,000 sq. ft. $ 49 SEARS 95 $ 99 399 Just west of Kerr St. beside Money Mart 95 $ 95 Sears Catalogu e store OAKVILLE VACUUM LTD Over 30 Years In Oakville! We repair all makes of Vacuum Cleaners & Sewing Machines 198 Speers Rd.,Oakville, 905 844-4736 throughout the town, as well as providing service every 15 minutes in the town's core areas. Pellier told the committee GreenTrans supports a number of the budget's transportation initiatives, including the plan to hire a cycling/pedestrian coordinator to encourage active transportation, and the plan for a transit service review to look at transit needs throughout the town. However, Pellier suggested the group believes the town is putting too much of its money into road projects. The budget committee also heard from the public library board, which is looking for funding to expand services in Clearview and extend operating hours at the library branches at the Glen Abbey and Iroquois Ridge community centres. Library branches at the community centres currently close at 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday evenings. The board would like to see them stay open until 9 p.m., a change that would cost $22,200, but isn't currently in the budget. "We have received repeated requests from our community for the longer hours," board chair Maria Robinson told the committee. "We at GreenTrans would like to see less of an emphasis on road expansion in this town and some of that money used to encourage alternate forms of transportation." Peter Pellier, GreenTrans The budget committee also heard a plea for more money from the Oakville Arts Council (OAC). The non-profit organization, which advocates for the town's arts community, organizes local arts events and provides training, services and resources for local artists and arts groups, has received an operating grant from the town since it was founded in 1978. This year, it's asking for that grant to be increased from $50,500 to $75,500. The extra money would allow the group to develop a business plan, increase its membership, strengthen its arts marketing infrastructure, undertake a study of the economic impact of the arts and develop a public art program, said OAC president Ken Kawall. Members of the public will have an additional chance to address the committee at its next meeting on March 1 (9 a.m. to 1p.m.), or may submit comments by e-mail to budget2007@oakville.ca. The town's complete proposed budget is available at www.oakville.ca. The committee has asked town staff to consider the items brought forward by the public delegations, along with funding for a graffitireduction strategy, ward newsletters, heritage planning, the Oakville Youth Centre and a financial information upgrade. Staff has also been asked to find reductions in the budget that would lower the tax increase to less than 3.4 per cent. As it stands, the 4.9 per cent tax hike would amount to an annual tax increase of $15.52 per $100,000 of assessment. A property assessed at $350,000 would be charged an additional $54.33 per year for town taxes. The 2007 budget committee consists of Ward 3 Councillor Keith Bird, Ward 1 Councillor Alan Johnston, Ward 2 Councillor Cathy Duddeck, Ward 4 Councillor Roger Lapworth and Mayor Rob Burton. The target date for council approval of the 2007 budget is March 26. FIND YOUR FOCUS. Enhance your education with a Sheridan Graduate Certificate Business · Digital Media & Communications · Education · Engineering & Manufacturing Sciences Information & Communication Technology · Public Safety · Visual Arts & Design JOIN US FOR OUR GRADUATE CERTIFICATE OPEN HOUSE THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2007 6 ­ 8:30 P.M. (DAVIS & TRAFALGAR ROAD CAMPUSES) Call 416-754-2600 or visit http://focus.sheridaninstitute.ca