The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, November 20, 2015 | 8 Residents urged to have a say before budget goes to Council Dec. 14 continued from p.1 The Town's Deputy Treasurer and Director of Financial Planning Nancy Sully said the budget is in keeping with the budget committee's direction of keeping overall property tax increases in line with inflation. "There are no service reductions in our recommended budget. The budget ensures the programs and services valued by our residents are maintained. It also incorporates the operating costs of completed capital projects and continues our past practice of ensuring sufficient funding for infrastructure renewal," she said. "This year, the proposed budget also includes service adjustments required to maintain services and meet increasing demand for services as the town grows." Town staff is recommending a $297.7 million operating budget. The proposed budget breakdown includes: 11.7 per cent spent on emergency services; 11 per cent for infrastructure maintenance; 10.4 per cent for Oakville Transit; 10.3 per cent for recreation services; 7.7 per cent spent for Parks and Open Space; 21.3 per cent for corporate revenue and expenses; and 3.1 per cent for libraries. Some program enhancements recommended for 2016 include funding for year one of the Transit Service Plan; the introduction of the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system in town libraries; and increased resources to meet recreational program demands. Town staff has also proposed a 2016-2025 capital budget and forecast of $99.4 million for 2016 and just over $1 billion for capital requirements over the next 10 years. Major projects for the 2016 capital budget include: · $7.8 million for the road resurfacing and preservation program · $7.3 million for widening Cornwall Road from Chartwell to Morrison · $6 million for LED Streetlight Conversion · $4.2 million for the demolition of the existing Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital · $3.8 million for replacement buses · $3.7 million for the Emerald Ash Borer Management Program · $3.6 million to replace the downtown fire station · $3 million for Bridge Road improvements from Warminster to Fourth Line · $2.1 million for Sixteen Mile Creek West Shore Landscape Rehabilitation · $2 million for the widening of Speers Road from the Bronte GO station, west of Third Line to Fourth Line The Town will be looking for $172.3 million from the tax levy. "This recommended budget aims at delivering long-term sustainability of our infrastructure, our facilities, as well as our outstanding programs and services while keeping our overall tax increase in line with inflation," said Budget Committee Chair and Ward 6 Town and Regional Councillor Tom Adams. "Over the coming weeks, budget committee members will be reviewing the budget before it goes to council for approval in December. These are your tax dollars at work so I encourage all residents to review the budget and provide feedback." Residents can attend budget open houses on Nov. 23 at Iroquois Ridge Community Centre or on Dec. 1 at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre. Both meetings are 7-8 p.m. The public can also present to the budget committee on Nov. 30 at 9:30 a.m. or Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Budget committee deliberations take place Dec. 7 at 9:30 a.m. with the budget going before Town Council for approval on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. All Budget Committee and Council meetings will be held in Council Chamber at Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Rd. and are open to the public. Those wishing to appear as a delegate before the Budget Committee may register in person at the meeting, or in advance by emailing townclerk@ oakville.ca or calling 905-815-6015. For those who cannot attend the meetings, they are streamed live at TownTV .ca. Residents can also email their comments to budget@ oakville.ca. All submissions, whether in person, writing, email or social media, will be considered as part of the budget committee deliberations. GRAND OPENING NOV 28 280 NORTH SERVICE RD W BALLOONS RIBBON CUTTING MASCOT (NW CORNER @ QEW & DORVAL DR. NEXT TO METRO) WITH MAYOR AT 9AM STORE HOURS MON-FRI: 7AM-3 PM, SAT-SUN: 7AM-4 PM NORTH TH SERVICE RD W DORVAL DR QUEEN ELIZABETH W WAY EARLY BIRD SPECIAL $1 from every entrée will be donated to the ALL DAY 4 99 +TAX Oakville Fare Share Food Bank CREATE YOUR DREAM h t a B r o n e Kitch ARE YOU TRULY DIVERSIFIED? 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE | QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP | CUSTOM DESIGNS A world-class asset manager--based in Oakville--Acorn invests over $100 million on behalf of institutions and accredited investors seeking true diversification to achieve beer portfolio returns and risk reduction. Let Acorn help you diversify your portfolio. Contact us to find out how at www.acorn.ca or 905-257-0773 Call for a Free Estimate 905-844-3332 Visit our showroom: 333 Wyecroft Rd. Unit 3, Oakville www.aromakitchens.ca