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Vision To be the most livable town in Canada Want to learn more about how your tax dollars are spent? The 2011 budget process is underway! But before we make any decisions, we want to hear from you. Where do you want to see your tax dollars spent? What programs and services are important to you? What are we doing great and what areas can we improve on? You tell us. 2011 Budget Open Houses Sessions are as follows: Wednesday, January 26 7 to 8 p.m. Central Library Auditorium Tuesday, February 8 7 to 8 p.m. Woodside Library Wednesday, February 9 7 to 8 p.m. Town Hall Oakville Room Saturday, February 12 2 to 3 p.m. Glen Abbey Library Please join Councillor Tom Adams, chair of the Budget Committee, as he hosts 2011 Budget Open Houses so that you can share your ideas and concerns about how your tax dollars should be spent. The staff recommended budget proposes a total tax increase of 3.32 per cent that will ensure existing town programs and services are maintained. The proposed increase includes previous financial commitments such as road pavement improvements, renovations to Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre, annualization of costs associated with Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, and the completion of a new transit facility. Where your tax dollars go Building Services Internal Audit ServiceOakville Economic Development Dev. Engineering Enviro. Policy Strategy, Policy and Comm. Regulatory Services Legal Services Admin. Executive Culture Facilities and Const. Human Resources Infra. Planning Political Governance Planning Services Financial Services Info Systems + Solutions Library Recreation Services Corp. Revenue/Expenses Parks and Open Space Infra. Maintenance Oakville Transit Emergency Services Per $100 paid on taxes $0.1 $0.1 $0.3 $0.4 $0.5 $0.5 $0.7 $1.0 $1.4 $1.4 $1.5 $1.5 $1.7 $1.7 $1.9 $2.8 $3.5 $4.4 $6.2 $7.2 $7.9 $9.5 $12.0 $12.3 $19.5 Come out and have your say! Visit www.oakville.ca for more information on the 2011 Budget and how you can get involved. 9 Locations To Serve You Better! 905-849-4998 www.aireone.com 1-888-827-2665*Call Dealer for Details A+ Rating www. .com Depend on the largest Dealer in the Golden Horseshoe *Call now for details. Offer cannot be combined. OAC. Accessories excluded. Call us to see if you qualify. *After Government, Aire One and Manufacturer Rebates. Must have existing Furnace and A/C AIRE ONE MADNESS SALEAIRE ONE MADNESS SAL High Effi ciency FURNACE & CENTRAL AIR $3990*ONLY INSTALLED NO INTEREST NO PAYMENT FOR 6 MONTHS OAC Gas FurnaceGas 96% EFF. 96% High Efficiency Two Stage Variable Speed Gas Furnace 15.75 SEER High Effi ciency Central Air R410A Refrigerant PACKAGE INCLUDES: 10 Years Factory Warranty *After Government, Aire One and Manufacturer Rebates. Must have existing Furnace and A/C. SAME DAY INSTALLATIONS AVAILABLE 15.75 SEE R Free 10 yrFree 10 manufactures parts and labour warranty. Value $1900* *limited time offer*limited time Furnace diagnostic service Only $49OVER 60,000 SATISFIED CUSTOMERS LIMITED TIME OFFER While Supplies Last *LIMITED TIME OFFER One call takes care of them all. If you would like to get in shape, meet new people, and have a ball this year, call the dance professionals at Fred Astaire Dance Studios and start the year off on the right foot. One call will make 2011 a year to remember! Things to do in 201 1 1. Get in shape 2. Meet new peo ple 3. Have f un 4. Get o ut of the house m ore 5. Learn to danc e Call Fred Astaire Dance St udios HAMILTON: 1092 Main Street W. 905 522-3237 OAKVILLE: 225 Lakeshore Rd. East (2nd Floor) 905 815-3237 **By Yourself or with a Partner New adult students only 10 Lessons for $20.11* w w w . o a kv ill eb ea ve r.c o m O A KV IL LE B EA V ER Fr id ay , Ja nu ar y 14 , 2 01 1 8 her attempt to apologize was a covert reflection of her draconian beliefs. Once my son is well enough, I am hoping to engage him back into a Catholic secondary school in Oakville. I fear for his safety and well-being with people like LeMay as a trustee of the Halton Catholic School Board. My God, unlike LeMay's God, loves all children, not just the heterosexual ones. I will watch with interest how our political leaders deal with the issue. In 2011, one could only wish for more tolerance from our leaders and representatives. CONCERNED OAKVILLE PARENT God loves all children Continued from page 6 By Christina Commisso METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP As water consumption in Halton continues to decrease, the cost of water is increasing at a rate that concerns some regional council- lors. The Regions 2011 budget shows a 4.1 per cent increase in the cost of water and wastewater, which is paid through local hydro companies. For the average household, the increase means homeowners will pay $798 a year, up from $767 last year. The rates were discussed at Wednesdays planning and public works committee budget review. Staff project the cost of munici- pal water will steadily rise by about five per cent a year until 2020. Burlington Councillor John Taylor asked regional staff to map regional taxes and water rate increases from 2000 to 2020. The chart shows the cost of water and wastewater has doubled in the last decade and by 2016 it will cost the average Halton homeowner about $1,000 for water, the same projected cost for regional services. Staff pre- dict by 2020 water and wastewater will cost $1,250 annually, which will exceed the cost of regional services. This chart shows in the last 10 years the typical customer has gone from paying $400 a year to $800 a yearMy concern is that water is a necessity of life, for cooking, for hygiene for basic living. It is regres- sive. A person who is living on mini- mum wage needs the same amount of water for living as the multi-mil- lionaire. Previously held at 2009 rates, staff say households have been using less and less water over the last three years. This year a 5.9 per cent decrease in water consumption is expected, meaning fewer revenues for the Region. New building stan- dards, energy efficient appliances and water conservation programs have lead to Haltons average con- sumption dropping by almost 24 per cent between 2000 and 2009. Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring and Milton Councillor Colin Best said they expect water consumption rates to drop even more during the next few years. We still consume far more water per capita than many other coun- tries in the world. As rates increase consumption will decrease and thats a challenge for us, said Goldring. The planning and public works budget highlights include $132 mil- lion for road widenings and mainte- nance, $36 million for significant water and wastewater projects, $1.2 million for waste management and 19 new staff positions. Regional water rates keep rising