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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, December 20, 2013 | 8 It's official -- no tax hike for regional services by Bob Mitchell Special to the Beaver It's now official. There will be a zero property tax increase for Halton Region's services -- a true zero that is. Not a penny more for all regional services -- including police -- will be taken from homeowners for 2014. Halton Region managed to get down to "true zero" by cutting $300,000 from the tax-supported operating budget for administration and finance. Without that, the average homeowner would have paid about $4 more in property taxes, all from the police services budget hike. Instead, a Halton home assessed at $350,000 will generate $1,203 in property taxes as a result of the $777.2-million Regional (police included) budget approved Dec. 11. Technically , this is the eighth consecutive year of a zero tax increase for regional services but the first time police services have been included. When all the financial figures are calculated, there's actually a 0.4 per cent reduction in taxes although homeowners will pay roughly the same as they did this year. It's also the fourth time in the last eight years (2008, 2010, 2011 and 2014) Halton has achieved a property tax reduction for regional tax-supported programs and services. Oakville Mayor Rob Burton asked Mark Scinocca, Halton's commissioner of finance and Regional treasurer, to find a way to ensure there was a "true zero" property tax increase as a way to demonstrate how much work Regional Chair Gary Carr has done over the past seven years to "create a culture of respect for the taxpayer." Scinocca said no programs were touched to reach the true zero increase. There was also a slightly larger assessment growth than initially anticipated. Regional taxes pay for a variety of Halton services such as water and wastewater, regional roads and planning, paramedic services, public health and social assistance, various children's and seniors' services, non-profit housing, heritage programs and emergency management and economic development. Homeowners will pay an additional $35 in water and utilities next year on average. In a news release later, Carr noted Halton is one of the few municipalities in Canada that reduces property taxes. "This is great news for residents and businesses in Halton," Carr said. "By maintaining our AAA credit rating and keeping our taxes low we ensure Halton is competitive, which attracts jobs and investment to our community. Budget highlights include: · Increase capital contribution funding for new assisted housing units -- $600,000 · Fund an increase in additional rent subsidies for Assisted Housing -- $320,000 · An additional 18 subsidized child care spaces -- $405,000 · Increase funding for Subsidized Passes for Low Income Transit (SPLIT) to ensure access for all eligible residents -- $300,000 · Increase in Waste Management contract costs to maintain levels of service -- $721,000 · Additional capital financing required for Water and Wastewater State-of-Good-Repair -- $3.1 million · Water and Wastewater Maintenance Program -- $1.6 million · Increase funding for Transportation Maintenance contracts -- $452,000 · Agritourism Program Implementation to promote tourism in rural communities$65,000 www.oakville.ca Open House and Public Meeting Official Plan Amendment Trafalgar Road Corridor Planning Study · Changing the land use designation of the former Halton Region reservoir, municipally known as 2273 Trafalgar Road, from Utility to Residential Medium Density · Making incidental amendments necessary to implement the above The lands known as 2158, 2168, 2180 and 2192 Trafalgar Road are also subject to applications for official plan and zoning by-law amendments, and proposed plans of subdivision and condominium (1319284 Ontario Inc., Z.1413.28/24T12006/1413 & 24CDM-12005/1413, OMB File No. PL130321). If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the Town of Oakville before the proposed official plan amendment is adopted: a) the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision of the Town of Oakville Council to the Ontario Municipal Board; and b) the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Municipal Board unless, in the opinion of the board, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party. Any submission to the Planning and Development Council, either in hard copy or in electronic format, must be forwarded to the Clerk's department for receipt no later than noon on January 13, 2014, to ensure its availability to the Members of Council at the meeting. Individuals making oral submissions at the public meeting are requested to submit a written outline of the submission to the Town Clerk. All submissions should include the full name and address of the presenter. If you wish to be notified of the adoption of the proposed official plan amendment, or of the refusal of a request to amend the official plan, you must make a written request to the Town Clerk at the Town of Oakville, Clerk's department, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON L6H 0H3. The public may view planning documents and background material at the Planning Services department between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or on the town's website at www. Oakville.ca and search for Trafalgar Road Corridor Planning Study. Questions or written submissions may be directed to Gabe Charles, manager, Current Planning ­ Central District, Planning Services department at 905-845-6601, ext. 3984 or at gcharles@oakville.ca. The personal information accompanying your submission is being collected under the authority of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended, and may form part of the public record which may be released to the public. Questions about this collection should be directed to Gabe Charles, manager, Current Planning ­ Central District, Planning Services department at 905-845-6601, ext. 3984 or at gcharles@oakville.ca Open House: Monday January 13, 2014, at 6-6:45 p.m. Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville and Trafalgar Rooms Public Meeting: Monday January 13, 2014, 7 p.m. Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Council Chamber You are invited to attend and provide input at this meeting hosted by Planning and Development Council. The purpose of this application is to incorporate into the Livable Oakville Plan certain modifications to the text and schedules necessary to implement the recommendations of the town's Trafalgar Road Corridor Planning Study to date. The Trafalgar Road Corridor Planning Study area is centered on Trafalgar Road from QEW in the south to Dundas Street in the north. The official plan amendment would have the effect of: · Establishing a Trafalgar Road Corridor Special Policy Area · Providing opportunities for intensification of the following within the Special Policy Area: - existing place of worship sites ­ Low and Medium Density Residential uses in association with the existing use - High Density Residential sites ­ up to 300 units per site hectare - Sheridan College site ­ up to 12 storeys east of existing buildings, 4 storeys adjacent to existing lands designated Low Density Residential to the north, with an additional 4 storeys permitted through bonusing south of Ceremonial Drive · Changing the land use designation of 2136, 2148, 2158, 2168, 2180 and 2192 Trafalgar Road, and the land without municipal address at the north end of Lillykin Street, from Low Density Residential to a modified Main Street 2, providing for 4-6 storeys along Trafalgar Road and 3-4 storeys otherwise · Removing the floor area cap from the lands designated Neighbourhood Commercial at the southwest corner of Glenashton Drive and Trafalgar Road Dated at the Town of Oakville December 20, 2013.