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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, December 19, 2014 | 18 Halton's 2015 budget to include emergency planning by Bob Mitchell Special to the Beaver Halton will be much better prepared if severe weather strikes again next year, Regional councillors heard Wednesday. The Region will use $5.2 million from its capital reserves to install generators in four new warming and rescue centres. It's one of the major expenditures included in the proposed 2015 Regional budget presented this week by Mark Scinocca, Halton's Finance Commissioner and Regional Treasurer. The centres will be strategically located in each of Halton's four municipalities as well as the Halton Regional Centre. Each municipality will decide where their centre will be located. Halton Region to finalize budget Jan. 27 For an average home assessed at $400,000, the budget, which will be finalized Jan. 27, will see homeowners paying about $1,332 in 2015, or $20 more than they paid for Regional services in 2014. But the cost of the generators will have no impact on property taxes because they will be funded by capital reserves, according to the proposed budget. Two major storms have struck Halton in the past 12 months -- the ice storm that hit just before last Christmas resulting in a loss of power for thousands of residents and a flood, considered the worst to hit the city in 20 years, caused wide-spread damage, closed major highways and resulted in basement flooding throughout south Burlington last August. "Weather patterns have changed over the past few decades with more localized storm events of greater intensity occurring with greater frequency," Scinocca told Regional Council on Dec. 17. Investing with emergencies in mind "The 2015 budget includes strategic investments to increase the Region's capacity to respond and recover from emergencies such as severe weather events." While the cost of the generators isn't included in the tax base, the 2015 proposed budget does include $5.5 million for capital see Sense on p.20 Happy from Holidays your totAl cAr oakville cAre centre to Lifetime 905-844-2026 warranty on #1 muffler brake pads and voted shop in oakville shoes $ * Plustax.Peraxle.Mostvehicles. ck S 59 In tire StorAge AvAilAble Save $10 on services over $100* Save $20 on services over $200* Save $30 on services over $300* *valid with this flyer only greAt SAvingS 230 Speers Rd., Oakville ON 905-844-2026 midas_oakville@bell.net AppointmentS or WAlkS-in are Welcome! European Engineering Combined With Traditional Workmanship Free Shuttle within the Oakville Area "Building on the Brightest Ideas Around Glass" 905.849.0266 Comfort Friendly Spa-like l r. M ge aris n A ' aD Caring Experts in holiday magic. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! Compassionate g hiv ani Sag Visit our new dental office, conveniently located on the ground floor of the recently built Palermo Professional Centre (SE corner of Bronte Road and Dundas Street). We offer full Family Dental Services in our brand new, state-of-the-art office in a calm and relaxing environment. We are a paperless office and use digital x-rays. We welcome kids, teens, adults and seniors. NEW PATIENTS are welcome and we will accommodate your dental emergencies. We will directly bill your insurance company and offer convenient evening and weekend appointments. Call to book your appointment today 905-827-8700.Visit us at www.reflections-dental.ca TICO# 4537114 ON REG# 970855995 2525 Old Bronte Road, Suite #130 Palermo Professional Centre (ground floor) Old Bronte Rd. Bronte Rd. ar D r. S Relaxing o Dundas St. W. Pine Glen Rd. 3rd Line www.reflections-dental.ca 905-827-8700 è D N Cruise Holidays of oakville 221 Lakeshore Road East · 905-337-2228 info@cruiseholidaysoakville.com www.cruiseholidaysoakville.com