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

1 4 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday F e b ru a ry 17, 2 0 0 6 Public meeting draws little interest in cutting town budget By Kim A rnott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Maybe Oakville residents are feeling rich. Or maybe they're just pretty happy with the town they live in. Either way, there doesn't appear to be wide spread concern with Oakville' s 2006 budget, which calls for a potential 5.47 per cent increase in town taxes. The town's five-member budget committee held a public meeting Wednesday night to get feedback on the $195.4 million proposed to be spent on operating and capital expenses in the town over the coming year. If approved as it stands, the budget would result in a $59 yearly increase in property taxes for a house assessed at $350,000. For commer cial properties, the increase would amount to an extra $84 a year on a property valued at $350,000. The budget committee heard from only seven delegations - and almost half of the speakers argued against possible cuts to the proposed budget. During the 90-minute meeting, town coun cillors were told that Oakville should maintain its subsidy for minor sports organizations and its grant to the Oakville Arts Council. They also heard suggestions that they should invest in alternative fuel vehicles, provide free summer time transit rides to kids under 12, and improve the bike path along Lakeshore Road. While a few individuals did attend to express concern about taxes, at least one of them was concerned with the impact of the provincial reassessment on his tax levy - a situation beyond the control of town officials. Ward 5 councillor Jeff Knoll, who is chair maintained, said Kawall, who suggested the ing this year' s budget committee, said he organization is able to use its extensive bank of believes citizens are beginning to recognize volunteers to work efficiently. "If you were to eliminate that grant, it the challenges faced by municipal officials. would be impossible to provide those services "I think the public is starting to understand that we're faced with a major conundrum with without adding a number of staff to the town's mandated services and downloaded costs," he complement," he noted. On behalf of the Minor Oaks Hockey said. Association (MOHA), Wayne Moorehead also The pooling of social services costs, which urged the budget committee to reject the idea forces GTA municipalities like Oakville to con of saving $40,000 by elimi tribute cash for welfare and "I think the public is nating subsidies for minor other social services in sports groups. . . Toronto, has alone cost starting to understand Describing the idea as a Oakville $60 million over the that we're faced with a "huge step backwards," last four years, noted Knoll. major conundrum with Moorehead said the loss of In comparison, the con mandated services and the subsidy would force struction of the new Glen downloaded costs." organizations to increase Abbey arena cost only $7 mil their registration fees and lion, he said. Budget committee chair, make it too expensive for "Pooling is a significant, Ward 5 Councillor Jeff Knoll some children to play organ non-negotiable at the ized sports like hockey: moment, fact that we have to "It' s much easier - and some would say deal with as a municipality," Knoll said. He also suggested that technology - such as cheaper - to put kids on the street than on the e-mail and web-streaming - is allowing people rink," said Moorehead, who suggested minor to participate in the budget process without sports should receive an increase in town sup port, rather than a decrease. having to attend meetings in person. The budget committee also heard from About 50 ,, people did turn out for Wednesday night's meeting, including repre GreenTrans, a local non-profit organization sentatives from the Oakville Arts Council concerned with transportation issues. Chair Lisa Seiler noted that only 15 per (OAC). OAC president Ken Kawall expressed con cent of the money the town will spend on cern about a suggestion from town staff to pare transportation initiatives this year will go down the budget by eliminating the $48,000 toward public transit. She suggested money needs to be spent to grant the town provides the organization. ' The grant, given to the council, in exchange expand transit service to the Bronte GO sta for its work in administering a $78,000 pro tion, provide busing to Mississauga along gram of community culture grants, should be Dundas Street and install bike racks on town buses. The organization is also suggesting the town encourage youth to become regular tran sit. riders by providing free summer-time bus rides to kids under 12. Seiler also expressed concern with a pro posed town plan to move toward increasing user fees for services. "I really hope when this user fee review comes up that the people who pay for transit will be all of us, because we all benefit from it," said Seiler, noting that transit benefits the community by ensuring cleaner air, reduced gridlock and lower road maintenance and con struction costs. But while sorrie organizations are hoping to avoid program cuts, local resident Brian Hopkins told councillors that he isn't happy with the tax increases in recent years. "I think these tax hikes are not sustainable. I think these tax hikes are not affordable for most of our residents," he said. "The increases seem to keep compounding, one on another, but I don't personally see any benefits in return." Mayor Ann Mulvale said she shares Hopkins' frustration. "There's a huge amount of this budget that we don't have discretion over," she noted, pointing to social services pooling and other mandated costs. The proposed budget is available at Town Hall at 1225 Trafalgar Road, or on the town's website at www.oakville.ca. Comments on the budget may be made via e-mail at budget2006@oakville.ca. The budget is expected to go before town council for consideration on March 6, at 7:30 p.m. The Complete Solution for your Business Advertising Needs 100% Canadian Made Solid Wood Dining Suite · Great table design · Many chair styles Table + 6 100% Leather Chairs Special J Purchase C o m m u nity N e - v W 6' Unbeatable Buy On Genuine Leather · Great selection of styles ·Great selection of colour Call 905.337.5552 to meet with a marketing representative Chairs from S o t o s fro m 2 *8 9 9 s n A A n n Halton Healthcare 100% Canadian Made Solid Wood Bedrooms by Contemporary, traditional and transitional designs. Customize your own collection 4 PC PACKAGE FROM FREE Public Seminar Cholesterol and Your Heart Making the Connection Wednesday. February 22 6:30 pm 7:00 pm $ 299 Displays and Refreshments Presentation by: Dr. Michael Heffernan, M .D ., Cardiologist Halton Healthcare Services Le Dome Banquet Hall fy&s l"ij --" Fairview St. pH 4205 Fairview St. 1173 North Service Road East, Oakville L6H 1A7 (east of Trafalgar Road) f Best Values ! Since 1977 I ,,,,B u ri| n g t0 ?,,,, RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY: 905-338-4379 Made possible through an educational grant from Pfizer Canada Organized in partnership with: Mon.-Thurs. & Sat. 10:00-5:30; Fri. 10:00.-9:00; Sat. 10:00 -5:30; Sun. 12-4