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Halton eyes hike of $5 -- or less -- on $100,000 in assessment by Bob Mitchell Special to the Beaver 23 | Thursday, December 25, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com For the time being, Halton homeowners will pay about $5 more for every $100,000 in assessment for their residence in Regional property taxes next year. Regional property taxes for an average home assessed at $400,000 will cost homeowners about $1,332 in 2015, or $20 more than what they paid in 2014. But if history repeats, you can expect that tab to be reduced by the time Regional councillors chisel away at the proposed budget presented last week by Mark Scinocca, Halton's Finance Commissioner and Regional Treasurer. The average increase for the past eight years has been zero per cent for Regional Services and there's no reason to think councillors won't try to keep it at that mark again for 2015 by the time the budget is passed on Jan. 27. In fact, last year was a true zero because it was the first time the Region managed to hold the line on property tax increases while also including the Halton police services budget. "The 2015 budget continues to maintain service levels in the Region's core service areas and ensures delivery of the priorities identified www.edwardjones.com by Regional Council," Scinocca told Regional Council on Dec. 17. The Proposed 2015 Budget and Business Plan(PDF file) recommends a property tax increase of 1.5 per cent for Regional Services and an increase of 1.9 per cent for Police Services, leading to a combined impact to the taxpayer of a 1.6 per cent increase. To make the numbers work, Scinocca told councillors that the Region has factored in a 1.7 per cent increase or $3.2 million in assessment to achieve the current 1.5 per cent property tax increase for Regional services. 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. In addition to regional services, on the average, Halton residents can expect to see their water bills increase by 4.9 per cent or $42 next year. Water and wastewater services aren't supported by property taxes under provincial orders. Scinocca said the proposed budget is being driven by several factors such as investments to see Water on p.24 Your interests come first. 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