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A OAKVILLE-CENTRE T h e Oa k ville B eaver ^ fru d en tial v ® Town Centre R talt 338.6550 C o n v e n ie n c e A n d L uxury I n Every Ro o m (906) 842-5000 A Metroland Publication Vol. 38 No. 49 Hfeskend Oakville's Award-Winning Community Newspaper 3© 28 Pages SUNDAY, APRIL 23,2000 75 Cents Plus GST Region approves 0% tax increase B u d g e t in c lu d e s $ 4 1 m il l i o n i n p o o l i n g c o s t s f o r T o r o n to By Irene Gentle SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER For the sixth consecutive year, Halton Region has approved an operating budget without raising property taxes. The $ 186.5-million budget -- including $48.2 million for the police -- was approved Wednesday. Previously, it was thought the owner of a house assessed at $185,000 would have to pay about $5 more in property taxes in 2000. Instead, Halton staff were able to make cuts in social hous ing and social assistance based on new information regarding provincial grants. "We felt comfortable recommending a reduction," said Rob Rossini, Halton's manager of budgets. A further $128,000 cut in waste management costs result ed in an overall decrease of 1.3%, or about $10 per home, in the Region's portion of the tax bill. So even with the police budget weighing in with a 3.8% increase, the result is a tax freeze for all Halton residents. Overall, the owner of a home assessed at $185,000 can expect to pay $ 1,088 for regional and police services this year. "This is the sixth year in a row that taxes have stayed the same or have gone down," said Halton Region Chief Administrative Officer Brent Marshall. "Our innovative approaches and good fiscal management have allowed us to accommodate growth in Halton and meet the increased ser vice needs of our residents." To address the increased service needs, this year's budget provides for enhancements to Halton's public health services, land ambulance, childcare services and waste management. The Halton Regional Police Services Board budget includes an additional 21 police officers for the region. "I think this budget is an excellent budget," said Burlington councillor John Taylor. "It's able to accommodate change, including a significant increase in police and land ambulance, without an impact." He still expressed concern that a depletion of regional (See `Region' page 2) Photo by Ron Kuzyk SNAPPY DRESSER: Diomedes the White Oaks Secondary School hockey robot made an appearance at Wednesday night's Halton District School Board meeting to pick up an Award of Excellence, along with its human teammates, for winning the Best Dressed Robot award and placing fifth overall in the Canada FIRST Robotics Games 2000. The WOSS human teammates are: Shaulaine Choo (team leader), Chris Arnold (teacher), Mohsin Qureshi, Rupinder Virk, Adam Dixon Josi Hope, Cathy McLeod and Geoff Rutherford (robot driver). Public school board adopts strategic plan By Dennis Smith SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Lobbying to save some local public schools may intensify now that a con troversial $409-million capital plan has been approved. The Halton District School Board will hear community proposals before finalizing a list o f schools to be consid ered for closure. Meetings to discuss alternatives will start May 1st. "Those on the list are still on it, but the board has also set up a process to explore amendments," said education director Dusty Papke. "The list could change." The report recommends closing five elem entary schools in Oakville -- Lome Skuce (2003/04), Pine Grove (2004/05), Queen Elizabeth Park (2004/05), Linbrook (2006/07) and New Central (2006/07)-- and one sec ondary school -- Queen Elizabeth Park in Oakville (2004/05). The board will wait until June to finalize the school closure list, which would then be formally studied for final decisions in mid-November. Simple majority votes will be required to make amendments. Last Wednesday, before more than (See `Only' page 3) INSIDE U p d a te ......... ...............7 S p o rts .......... 21-22 Travel........... ............ 23 C lassified 2 4 -2 7 Spe<ial Supplem ents: For Home Delivery; Wal-Mart, S ean , The Bay PartialDelivery: Pharma Phis, GoodHealth Mart C anadian Publications Mail Product Agreem ent #435-201 W O R K S H O PG IF T S _ SIHUMNNT O O L SI W M TQ ^V >J IDEAL FOR THEBBQ ORPICNICS ' 5 5 0 K err S tr e e t 844-0202 ifln R D m n ^ T IR E / UPPER OAKVILLE SHOPPING CENTRE Upper Middle at 8th Line 849-8473 Store Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat. 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. 9 a m -6 p.m.