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Oakville Beaver Weekend S und ay, N o v e m b e r 2 1 , 1999 Water bills set to rise by 2.1 % ` t/ou neoer know w/tattjou ' / / / 'i/ut'.. " `" f S S d ir r from 9Sp C o ats tro m *5.99 C oots tro m _ ® to e ^afls $5.99 4 9 5 Brant_St. Burlington H c i L 'i M o n .- S o t. 9 - 5 C lo s e d f o r L u n c h 1 - 1 :3 0 50% off 3 5 6 Kerr S t., Oakville M o n -- W e d . S a t. 10-6 T h u rs .-F ri. 10-8 Several massive capital pro jects are behind a more than 2% hike in Halton's 2000 water and sewer operating budget, said the Region's finance commis sioner Joe Rinaldo. The 2.1% increase will amount to an additional $8.46 per year for a total of $415 on the average household's water bill. The increase -- which adds up to about $ 1.3 million region wide -- was approved by regional council Wednesday. The hike in the water and sewer budget came despite an 11% increase in water con sumption revenues this year. That revenue should have been enough to make up the shortfall without raising bills, argued Burlington Councillor Jack Dennison. This is especially since sur rounding regions have been able to keep their water rates lower than Halton, he added. "I don't get a whole lot of calls. I have a pretty happy ward. But I do get calls from people who have just moved into the area and are shocked at their water bills," said Dennison. "We should be able to find that $1.3 million." But other regions don't have the geography that Halton does, countered Rinaldo. A number of creeks running through the region means Halton can't get away with one water and waste water plant. Also, the Region is embark ing on a series of big buck cap ital projects such as the $98 million pipe project aimed at bringing lake water to service new development in Milton. And though the `Big Pipe' project is vital for Milton's growth, it isn't the most costeffective way to deliver water services, noted Rinaldo. The rate budget is also pay ing for long-term cast iron main replacement and heavy plant equipment replacement pro jects. Both are proactive steps to replace worn out apparatus, preventing emergency breaks in the system. Overall, the Region will spend $180 million over the next two years on capital pro jects. A short-term budget fore cast for the water and sewer budget predicted a 1.2% increase for 2001, moving up to 3.7% in 2002. A N eig h b o u rh o o d S ta tio n S to p Santa Arrives at noon! Saturday, N ovem ber 27th, S a n ta w ill be ch u ggin g in to our n eigh b ou rh ood station . FREE rides on Santa's Express from 12noon - 4:00 pm FREE arcade rides from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm TH E SALVATION ARM Y " A C h u rc h in Your C o m m u n ity " 1225 Rebecca Street , (Between 3rd & 4th lines) 8 2 7 -5 3 2 4 (Ray.Braddock@sallynet.org) A V E R Y SPECIAL O C C A SIO N jZauzie -/\tkins In C oncert Gospel Singer, Composer, M usician, Recording Artist /\ /KusLcat '7^' ia.m a Sunday, November 21st 6 :3 0 p .m . FREE Photos w ith Santa T h e first 50 children to visit w ith Santa on N ovem ber 27, will receive a FREE Polaroid photo. (One photo per family please.) Free W ill Offering for Youth Work /AlRHOME FABRICS Decorating Fabrics. Drapery Hardware, Blinds Home Consultations and more S a n ta s H o u rs N o v e m b e r 2 7 - D e c e m b e r 19 1 h u r s d a y s N . F rid a y s , 4 :0 0 p m S u n d a y s , 1 :0 0 p m - 8 :0 0 p in S a tu rd a y ? , n o o n - 6 :0 0 p m - 5 :0 0 p m - 8 :0 0 p m D e c e m b e r 2 0 - 2 3, 4 : 0 0 p m 30% off all in-stock FABRICS 490 Speers Road, U nit 5, Oakville, ON L6K 2G3 HOURS: Monday - Wednesday 930-6 · Thursday 9:30-8, Friday 9:30-6 · Saturday D e c e m b e r 2 4 , n o o n - 4 :0 0 p m 9:30-5 Good Neighbours to YX&# Hopedale Mail 3rd Line &. Rebecca · 827-0229 · www.hopedalemall.on.ca Shop: M on. I'ri. 9 :1 0 .ini it* 9 :0 0 pin · Sat. ~ 9: R) am to 6 :0 0 pm · S un. ~ N o o n to 5 :0 0 ptm 905 338-8856 0/ieFREE M om e C o n su lta tio n from F a i r h o m e F a b r i c s offer expires December 31st, 1999