Cash from province slashes town tax hike-- by $4

A last-minute windfall from the provincial government has dropped the 2006 tax hike from 5.1 per cent to 4.7 per cent. Halton Hills council approved the 2006 operating and capital budget and capital forecast at Monday's meeting. Late last week, the Town received word from the provincial government, it would get $82,000 under the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund. The cash drops the proposed tax hike of $51 for a home assessed at $300,000 to $47-- a 4.7 per cent increase over last year's budget. The total Town, Region and Education tax increase is $97-- a 3 per cent hike. A homeowner with a home assessed at $300,000 will be paying $3,364 in taxes ($1,049 in Town taxes, $1,427 in Region taxes and $888 in Education). Instead of lowering the tax hike, Ward 3 Councillor Mike Davis attempted to spend the $82,000 on a new program-- Monday openings at the Georgetown branch library. But he was forced to withdraw his motion after not even getting a seconder willing to support his cause. "The library (Monday) opening issue should come back when the new library opens (in 2010)," said Councillor Ron Chatten. "Five point one to 4.7 (per cent) isn't huge but it's a pretty strong statement that we're below five and I think the community will appreciate that," he added.