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Budget committee rejected transit fare increase 3 · Friday, December 11, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Continued from page 1 With his task now largely complete, 2010 Budget Committee Chair and Ward 6 Councillor Tom Adams reflected on the extensive consultation process, which helped to guide the budget's direction. "We had more consultation in this budget than we've had in any other," he said. "We've had five public information sessions, three public delegation days as well as the formal deliberation days and that's more members of the public coming out to public debate and discussion on the budget than I think we've ever had before. I think it was a very useful opportunity to discuss with members of the public where they thought we should go in terms of our funding levels." These budget totals will go before a 5 p.m. council meeting Monday night for final approval. The 1.61 per cent increase is somewhat higher than the 1.35 per cent increase previously forecast and is the result of a variety of add-ons to the budget. One add-on of $305,000 came as the result of the provincial government canceling this year's Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) grant. The grant is provided by the province to assist municipalities with their social program costs on a year-by-year basis and is not guaranteed. Another add-on of $225,000 came as a result of the committee deciding to strike down a proposed transit fare increase that would have seen adult ticket (not cash fare) prices move from $2.55 to $2.65, a student ticket move from $2.10 to $2.15, an adult pass move from $88 to $93, a student pass move from $58 to $65 and a Gus pass move from $23 to $26. "We are trying to stimulate transit so I cannot understand, especially the way the economy is, doing this," said Ward 4 Councillor Allan Elgar. "We'd really be hitting the people who need the buses." Committee members also added $12,000 to the budget by reinstating the Galleries Capital Grant for Art Collection. Ward 3 Councillor Mary Chapin noted supporting local galleries will do more than simply promote the town's cultural attributes and will actually benefit a variety of Oakville businesses through tourism. "At the Sunday opening (of the latest exhibit at Oakville Galleries at Centennial Square) I want you to know there was a busload of people from Toronto who came in to see just that opening just that day," said Chapin. "They don't just get off the bus, go into Centennial Gallery, get on the bus and leave town. They go out for a meal, a drink, they shop. If we want to keep our downtown vibrant this is a very valuable investment." Other add-ons included loose leaf pick up for the Glen Abbey, River Oaks and Clearview communities at a cost of $74,900, additional funding for hot mix paving at $250,000 and traffic calming measures for Postmaster Drive and Eighth Line at a cost of $75,000. Funds from the capital budget will also go towards 2009 commitments, such as $15 million for the new transit facility; $13.3 million for the new North Park quad pad; $12 million for QEP Community Centre; and $16.4 million for expansion of road capacity. The budget committee stayed away from the budget reduction options, which included cutting litter pickup in parks, the closing of all outdoor pools, the elimination of the Sports Development Grant and the elimination of transit routes 18 and 25. A pilot windrow-clearing program has been referred to the 2011 Budget Committee. 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