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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, February 5, 2015 | 22 Halton Highlights 2015 Halton Region's 2015 Budget: investing for the future Regional Council has made it a strategic priority to invest for the future. The 2015 Budget, which Regional Council approved on January 28, 2015, includes a significant investment in infrastructure and an increase in the Region's investment in the water, wastewater and transportation state-of-good-repair capital programs, from $69 million in 2007 to $110 million. The 2015 Budget continues the Region's focus on maintaining service levels, making strategic investments and maintaining the tax rate increase for Regional services within the rate of inflation. The 2015 Budget includes a 1.5 per cent increase in property taxes, for Regional programs and services. Gary Carr, Regional Chair February Keeping you informed by highlighting what makes Halton a great place to live. The 2015 Budget and Business Plan focuses on investment in the planning and delivery of infrastructure. It includes continued investments in Regional assets and facilities and is based on the solid financial planning principles for which Halton is recognized. Surveys show that public satisfaction with Regional services has averaged 98 per cent over the past few years. The 2015 Budget will allow these service levels to be maintained, along with our AAA credit rating, and ensure that Halton Region remains a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire. I invite you to review the 2015 Budget and Business Plan online at Halton.ca/budget. Budget highlights Investments to maintain existing infrastructure The Region has significant infrastructure assets particularly in the water, wastewater and transportation service areas. The 2015 Budget includes $5.7 million towards Water and Wastewater State-of-Good-Repair. Connecting people to services The Region provides a wide variety of important, high quality services to residents. The 2015 Budget includes over $2.9 million of investments to enhance customer services including $1.0 million for additional staff and vehicles for Paramedic Services and $200,000 for Crisis Prevention / COMMANDE, a multi-agency initiative committed to ensuring the health and safety of the community by providing real-time, coordinated responses to high-risk situations. Skyway Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade Economic growth Achieving economic growth includes development of employments lands. A sufficient supply of serviced employment lands is critical to attracting and retaining businesses. The Budget provides $1.0 million towards a Pilot Area Servicing Plan Study for economic development and intensification to be undertaken in each Local Municipality for the advancement of employment lands and Urban Growth Centre intensification. Budget and Business Plan 2015 Halton Region Adapting to climate change Weather patterns have changed over the past few decades with more intense storms such as the December 2013 ice storm and the August 2014 flood. Such events highlight the need to continuously review and identify improvements in Halton's emergency planning and response. The 2015 Budget includes $5.0 million to assist in the implementation of any recommendations of the Region-wide Basement Flooding Mitigation Study, as well as $5.5 million towards emergency generators in warming and reception centres and $378,000 to increase the Region's capacity to respond to emergencies. Financial stability A number of adjustments in the 2015 Budget will help maintain financial stability over the next 10 years. The Budget also includes a 4.9 per cent increase in the 2015 Water and Wastewater Rate. Of the 4.9 per cent increase, 1.1 per cent will fund operating costs of Halton's water and wastewater systems to keep Halton's water safe and 3.8 per cent is for investment in treatment plants and pipeline systems. Meetings at Halton Region 1151 Bronte Rd., Oakville, L6M 3L1 February 16 February 17 February 18 February 18 February 25 Meetings can be viewed at Halton.ca/meetings. Offices closed for Family Day 9:30 a.m. Health & Social Services Cttee 9:30 a.m. Planning & Public Works Cttee 1:30 p.m. Administration & Finance Cttee 9:30 a.m. Regional Council Meeting Please contact us as soon as possible if you have any accessibility needs at Halton Region events or meetings. This page has been donated by this newspaper to communicate important information to Halton residents at no cost to taxpayers.