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4 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, November 24, 2011 Membership falls with fee hikes, say clubs Continued from pg. 1 Zuraw said, "What we don't want to see continue is this trend of user fee rate increasing and membership rate decreasing." His views were echoed by Halton Hills Synchro, represented by club president Dianne Theoret-Major. She, too, said the 37-member club lost members because it couldn't afford all the required pool hours. "I am frustrated at another rise in the cost," she said. "With these fees we will be in a deficit." Council is scheduled to approve the latest proposed rates and fee increases to take effect in January 2012, at its meeting Monday night (Nov. 28). The revenue collected would lessen the burden on the residents' tax bills. After a review by a consultant to establish the full cost of providing services, departments set new fees based the consultants' recommendation, and what the Town staff thinks the public could pay. For example, a $25 dog licence will cost $33 in 2012, after the consultant determined that would be the full cost recovery of the fee, and staff felt that increase would not be an undue financial burden on the general public. A two-year licence would go up by $13 while a three-year licence will increase by $19. Marriage licences rise by $15 to $150, while the cost to bury people will remain relatively the same. Business licence fees will go up three per cent until a review of the current Business Bird Feeder Workshop Saturday, November 26 Drop in from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For everyone Use your carpentry skills to build a wooden bird feeder to bring birds to your backyard. All building materials and tools will be supplied (one feeder per family). Suggested donation of $5 per person along with gate admission. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED at education@creditvalleyca.ca or call 905-670-1615 ext 221. Terra Cotta Conservation Area, 14452 Winston Churchill Blvd., Halton Hills www.creditvalleyca.ca/education Licensing Bylaw is approved later this year. The new rates and fees also affect building and engineering permits and planning fees. The fire department will increase the cost of some of its permits, and will introduce a number of new fees and permits including a family fireworks permit costing $22 and a large fireworks display $213. Fire Chief Brent Marshall said the fire department would not actively pursue violators of the family fireworks permit unless a complaint is lodged-- similar to its procedure with burn permits. The greatest impact will be recreation and parks users, despite the fact the Town will forego full-cost recovery and continue to set fees based on affordability and market comparability. Generally, Recreation and Parks fees are either staying the same or are hiked between a dollar and $10. But Zuraw said with the latest increase the club is projecting a deficit two years in a row unless they pass on the rate increase on to their membership. Director of Parks & Recreation Terry Alyman said rates go up because of the cost of operations. If the Town doesn't charge users, then the general tax base will have to cover the cost of it, he said. However, he added, Recreation & Parks has also noticed a correlation between rate increases and dropping enrolment in their own programs. Alyman said no other user group has contacted his department regarding rate hikes. The All-New 2012 Passat INTRODUCTORY OFFER $ 0 FIRST MONTH'S PAYMENT per month for 48 months Lease from only $299 4.9% APR** Or purchase from only $25,969* Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick 2012 Passat Georgetown Volkswagen 203 Guelph St. 905.877.5285 *Base MSRP of new 2012 Passat 2.5L with 5-spd manual trans. is $25,969 including $1 ,365 freight and PDI, $29 EHF (tires), $100 air conditioning levy, $5 OMVIC fee and $495 dealer admin. fee. License, insurance, registration, options, and other applicable taxes are extra. **Limited time lease offer available through Volkswagen Finance, on approved credit, based on new 2012 Passat 2.5L base model with 5-spd manual trans. $1 ,365 freight and PDI included in monthly payment. 48-month term. $1 ,858 down payment or equivalent trade-in, $350 security deposit, $29 EHF (tires), $100 air conditioning levy, $5 OMVIC fee, $46 PPSA and $495 dealer admin. fee and first monthly payment due at lease inception. Total lease obligation: $16,210. 64,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0. 1 5/km for excess kilometres. License, insurance, registration, options, and other applicable taxes are extra. First monthly payment of $0 available on a 48-month lease (through Volkswagen Finance, on approved credit) of select new Passat models (TDI Clean Diesel models excluded) up to a maximum of $500 (excluding taxes). Offers end Nov. 30, 201 1 , and are subject to change of cancellation without notice. Visit Georgetown Volkswagen for full details, great coffee and tons-o-fun. After all, we're drivers too.