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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday November 28, 2008 - 7 Library budget cut Continued from page 1 on an option that would delay the hiring of 12 firefighters to 2010 and decided not to cut the Sports Development Grant ($25,500). All of Oakville's outdoor pools were also spared. "I don't think there was any will on council to cut those," said Mayor Rob Burton. "We are also not electing to phase out the Arts Council grant ($75,500) or the cultural grant ($98,000), as was the option that council could consider." Burton went on to point out that the free shuttle service the Town provides for the Oakville Waterfront Festival would also be untouched by budget cuts. The committee had been considering charging commuters for the service, having the festival pay for it or eliminating the service altogether. Other cuts to grass cutting, litter pickup and transit were also shot down during the meeting. "The 3.85 per cent increase, when you compare it to other municipalities, is in line with where municipal increases are going to be. I don't think that we're out of line and I think that it's a reasonable increase to maintain those levels of service that people really do desire," said Ward 6 Councillor and Budget Committee Chair Tom Adams. "This is a very prudent budget. It provides for contingencies so that at the end of the year we won't find ourselves in the red. The last thing you want to find in a municipal situation is at the end of the year you've run yourself into a deficit and that's not something I would foresee out of this budget." Not everyone is happy. The Oakville Public Library did not escape the proposed budget cuts unscathed, with the hours it provides customer account support reduced to save $40,000. The library's annual book collection spending was also reduced by seven per cent to save $55,000. "We were certainly hoping that given that public libraries experience much heavier use in hard economic times that we would have been spared any cuts at all," said Lori Sims, Oakville Public Library CEO. While the budget committee noted the Oakville Public Library will be getting money from the capital budget to negate the money taken from its book collections spending, Sims said that money is earmarked for growth and building book collections for new libraries. As such, Oakville's existing libraries will feel the impact of the seven per cent book collections reduction. "We're going to have fewer copies and longer waiting lists for the most popular things," she said. "We'll also be able to purchase about 1,500 fewer items this year." Sims said the reduced funding for account support means that the library's overdue and renewal line will be scaled back. The new hours for this service will be 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and all day Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The library was not the only service to suffer cuts with the Oakville Tourism Program budget of $74,000 cut by $34,000 and transferred to the department of Economic Development. Oakville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Sawyer had mixed feelings about this development. "We're pleased that at least there is a commitment to move forward, but we're disappointed there wasn't more of a commitment on the part of council to see that Oakville was well positioned economically in terms of the current environment we're in," he said. "Cuts are a little premature. It would have been good to see what comes out of the economic development strategy that's being developed and then look at the budget implications." While budget cuts seemed See Council page 8 VOLVO OF OAKVILLE, 770 Pacific Road, Oakville (905) 825-8088 WWW.VOLVOOFOAKVILLE.COM *Lease available on approved credit to qualified retail customers through Volvo Car Financial Services Canada on 2009 XC70 3.2 AWD at 4.40% lease APR and $699.01/month for 48 months with $0 down and $800 security and first month's payment due at lease inception. Taxes, up to $1,995 freight and PDI and up to $54,55 PPSA are due at lease inception. Total lease obligation $33,552.48. Taxes, license, insurance and retailer charges are extra. Lease has an 80,000 km allowance ($0.16 per km on excess). Payments and security deposits may vary by choice of extra equipment. Purchase at end of lease for $15,816.50 plus taxes. Vehicle may not be exactly as shown. Volvo of Canada may lease for less. Some terms/conditions apply. Offer subject to availability. Offer ends December 1, 2008. See Volvo of Oakville for full details. 8.8L per 100 kms (HWY)/13.7L per 100 kms (city). Based on 2008 Fuel Consumption Guide ratings published by Natural Resources Canada. Transport Canada test methods used. Your actual fuel consumption may vary. ©2008 Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. "Volvo. for life" is a registered trademark used under license by Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. Always remember to wear your seat belt. Visit volvoofoakville.com.