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Seniors' discount reduced, but holding at 20 per cent continued from p.1 Oakville was eyeing a 2.93-per-cent increase on its portion of the overall property tax bill. That was reduced to 2.11 per cent. Then, once married with no increases to either Regional or Halton school board tax rates, it means residents can expect an overall increase of 0.83 per cent to their property taxes. That's an extra $7.56 per $100,000 of assessment or $30.24 on a home assessed at $400,000. The rates support a Town staff-recommended, $264.1-million operating budget and a $53.1-million capital budget. Some of the larger capital projects slated for 2014 include $6.3 million for the Roads, Resurfacing & Preservation Program; $3.6 million for Emerald Ash Borer Management Program; $2.9 million for Oakville Transit replacement buses; $2.8 million for expansion of North Service Road at Ford Drive; and $2.3 million for a future north Oakville fire station property. Staff said the proposed 2014 tax levy would amount to $157.9 million and said the money goes to four main areas -- infrastructure renewal, emergency services, roads and Oakville Transit. Recent additions to the budget included $50,000 to construct a basketball court at Nautical Park. The funds for the basketball court were taken from the Mississauga Street right of way shoreline project, which is being put on hold temporarily. The council also approved a budget change, which will see snowplows hit residential roads and public laneways after a 7.5-centimetre snowfall instead of requiring 10 cm to fall. The cost of this threshold shift will be absorbed through the roads and works department's budget. Oakville Transit has also been instructed to work with the City of Burlington on consolidated booking, scheduling and dispatch functions to achieve compliance with accessibility legislation. "No one wants to pay taxes these days, but what I'm happy to see is that we are not reducing any services at all. We are actually improving a service in the case of the snow plowing where we have raised the bar," said Ward 4 Town and Regional Councillor Allan Elgar. "An under one per cent increase is pretty good especially when you look at our neighbours in Mississauga and Brampton. For years, they never seemed to have increase and now they have found their war chest of money is not only gone, but they are in a deficit position," said the Glen Abbey councillor. Adams praised Town staff for their work and thanked all residents who took the time to give feedback on the budget proposals. "This recommended budget meets Council's goals to invest in maintaining Oakville's infrastructure, reduce tax-supported debt, and keeps the overall tax increase in line with inflation," said Adams in a news release. "Residents will benefit from improvements in roads, parks, snow plowing and youth after school programming, and a new Operations Depot and Fire Station 9 in north Oakville. We are spending wisely and building healthy reserves as we plan for the future." 3 | Wednesday, December 18, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Residents will benefit from improvements in roads, parks, sow plowing and youth afterschool programming, and a new Operations Depot and Fire Station 9 in north Oakville. We are spending wisely and building healthy reserves as we plan for the future. Tom Adams, Ward 6 Councillor and budget committee chair inside today's Editorial Sports Beaver www.insideHALTON.com Real Estate National Sports XS Cargo Staples Home Depot Rogers Communications 6 18 Artscene Classified 17 21 *All flyers not necessarily delivered to all homes For home delivery & customer service call 905-631-6095, 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington New subscriptions call 905-631-6095 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com However, this year's budget process also saw council vote to maintain the current 20 per cent seniors discount on recreational memberships and programs -- after taking heat from some local seniors. The discount has been steadily dropping from its original 35 per cent and was scheduled to be completely eliminated by 2016. A group of disgruntled seniors argued throughout the budget hearings the elimination of the discount was unfair. Council compromised by maintaining the discount at 20 per cent. 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