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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday December 26, 2007 - 3 Region approves 1.3 per cent tax increase By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Regional councillors approved the 2008 budget Wednesday after shaving 0.6 per cent off of property taxes and increasing the police services budget by 5.3 per cent. The tax impact on a residential home assessed at $300,000 is 1.3 per cent, or a $16.54 increase. The final figure is two per cent less than previously estimated as a result of councillors voting in favour of shifting $6.1 million in infrastructure spending to the municipalities and receiving $1.3 million in subsidies from the Province to cover emergency medical services costs, said Commissioner of Corporate services and Regional Treasurer Jane MacCaskill. Some of the highlights outlined in a report presented by Mark Scinocca, director of finances, planning and budgets include: · Hiring 5.2 additional paramedics that will put two more ambulances on the road in peak demand periods. · Building two new Emergency Medical Services stations for Northwest Oakville and South Milton. · Putting $7.5 million into police services, hiring 19 additional police officers with emphasis on frontline patrols, increased traffic enforcement and greater support to deal with domestic violence, fraud and Internet crime. · Providing support to an outreach program that helps high- risk youth in North Halton deal with drug and sexual behaviour issues. · Distributing 120,000 green bins to collect organic waste in Halton, which is two years earlier than planned. · Dedicating $1 million to bump up subsidized childcare spaces in the region by 100, which will add up to 1,039 spaces. · Providing family counseling to improve employment opportunities for 450 more families. Another $5.9 million will also be spent expanding roadways in the region to address congestion hotspots. Specifically the cash will be used to convert Dundas Street from four to six lanes between Neyagawa Boulevard to Proudfoot Trail, and doing the same on Appleby Line at Taywood Drive to Hwy. 407. Routes that will be bumped up from two to four lanes are planned for Derry Road between James Snow Parkway and Ninth Line, as well as Steeles Avenue from James Snow to Winston Churchill Boulevard, and on Upper Middle Road from Bronte Road to Postmaster Drive and Sutton Drive to Burloak Drive. A new four-lane roadway on James Snow Parkway from Tremaine Road to RR#25 is also planned. Among the $9.7 million in projects to upgrade the region's water and waste water infrastructure ­ creating 13 new fulltime positions to support 15,500 additional residential customers and 6,855 industrial and commercial users ­ the region is also focusing on reducing water consumption by continuing to offer rebates of $60 and $75 to 1,450 residents who buy water-conserving ultra low flow toilets. Toilets are the biggest water consumers of the house, using 30 per cent of the daily total. The switch can also save homeowners up to $43 on their annual water bill. Holiday waste collection schedule With the coming of the holiday season so to do some changes to Halton's waste collection service schedule. During the weeks of Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 trash pickup will take place as normal on Monday, however, as the Tuesdays of those weeks fall on either Christmas or New Year's Day those who normally receive waste collection service will go wanting. All other residents can expect trash pickup one day later than their regular collection day with collection services also taking place on Boxing Day, Dec. 26. Officials note collection times may vary due to high volumes of waste material and poor weather conditions. Residents are asked to have their waste on the curb by 7 a.m. on their collection day, but not before 5 p.m. the evening before. The Halton Waste Management Site (HWMS) will maintain regular operating hours and will be open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 25 and Tuesday, Jan. 1. The HWMS is located at 5400 Regional Rd. 25 in Milton. Christmas tree pickup will begin Jan. 9 and go on for three weeks, with collection taking place in urban areas on the same day as Blue Box pickup. For further information go to the Region's Waste Management website at www.halton.ca/waste. Region establishes Sustainability Fund Six-figure funds are heading to the coffers of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Terra Cotta Environmental Education Centre, Mount Nemo, Rattlesnake Point and Hilton Falls. A newly-created Sustainability Fund, approved by Halton Regional Council Wednesday, Dec. 19, will channel $375,000 into rejuvenating the front entrance of the RBG; another $325,000 will pay for updates at the three Halton Escarpment Parks, and $372,000 to cover infrastructure improvements to Credit Valley Conservation's Terra Cotta renewal project. This year an estimated $1.2 million was freed up and channeled into the Sustainability Fund because the provincial government is taking back responsibility for the Ontario Disability Support Payments program. Property taxes were previously used to cover the disability program and drug benefits. This is the first year of the takeover plan that will be completely covered by the Ontario government four years from now. Funding applicants are subjected to eligibility and evaluation criteria that will be developed by regional and local municipal staff. Regional council will respond to future requests. "Halton Region is often approached by the local municipalities to participate in strategic partnerships, but we don't always have the funds allocated for these worthwhile projects," said regional chair Gary Carr. "This fund means we can invest in projects that will protect and enhance our economy and our natural environment." Need Help Creating Something Unique? See our design team! Looking for something different? You'll find it here. We specialize in importing and supplying quality ceramics, porcelain, and natural stone with a variety of exclusive lines. 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