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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, A ug us t 13 ,2 02 0 | 4 Please visit our newly renovated Family Style Restaurant Dine -in, Patio, Takeout and Curbside Service available. You'll love our Homemade Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. We make your favourites like Liver & Onions, Triple Decker Sandwiches and Home-made Burgers Ask about Senior and Student specials 154 Guelph Street, Georgetown (905) 877-2511 Our Staff specialize in making you smile! Hope to see you soon! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram - Georgeview Open Kitchen Despite the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it looks like Hal- ton residents can expect a traditional tax increase of about two per cent for 2021. Regional council ap- proved next year's budget directions at its July 15 meeting that specify staff should prepare the docu- ment based on a tax in- crease at or below the rate of inflation of two per cent. This would equate to an additional $5 per $100,000 of the assessed value of your home -- $3 for regional ser- vices, and $2 for police ser- vices. So, if your home is cur- rently assessed at $500,000, this would be a $25 tax in- crease on the regional por- tion of your bill. In light of the uncertain- ties around the duration of the pandemic, staff will craft the 2021 budget using a "conservative approach," says a report from Halton acting commissioner of fi- nance and regional trea- surer Cyndy Winslow. "Staff will continue to monitor the impacts of CO- VID-19 and the projected recovery plan, and will identify pressures that are anticipated to extend to 2021," she said. "There will be a continued focus on core services, continuous improvement and finding cost efficiencies in all pro- gram areas to achieve the targets set." Maintaining service lev- els in the public health de- partment while continuing to respond to COVID-19 and sustaining increased infec- tion control measures in long-term-care facilities are among the pressures staff expect to carry on into next year. "Throughout COVID-19, there has been a number of uncertainties, but this re- port provides guidelines that help us maintain our strong financial position, keep property taxes low and continue to support residents and businesses in our community as we re- cover from the pandemic," said regional chair Gary Carr. Among the key budget drivers are: PARAMEDIC SERVICES Addressing increased costs associated with infla- tion, rising call volumes, maintaining response times, population and oth- er growth pressures. CHILDREN'S SERVICES Maintaining service lev- els following reductions in provincial funding and un- certainty around funding levels for 2021. INDIGENOUS INITIATIVE Inclusion and diversity: creating an initiative with an Indigenous consultant that will support a compre- hensive response to the Fed- eral Truth and Reconcilia- tion Commission's 94 calls to action and the report of the national inquiry into missing and murdered In- digenous women and girls. CLIMATE CHANGE Emergency: continuing to make corporate opera- tions as carbon neutral as possible, designing and building climate-resilient infrastructure and plan- ning to respond to weather- related events and other emergencies. TRANSPORTATION Addressing increased costs associated with road maintenance, the road re- surfacing program, expan- sion to accommodate growth and keeping cur- rent roads in a state of good repair. Halton also manages the region's water and sew- er services and sets the an- nual rates. For 2021, the rate is pro- jected to rise by 3.5 per cent for both services, or $36 more for a typical house- hold for the year. The budget is sched- uled to go back before re- gional council on Dec. 9 for review and delibera- tions, followed by approv- al on Dec. 16. COUNCIL MODEST TAX INCREASE EXPECTED FOR HALTON IN 2021 MELANIE HENNESSEY mhennessey@ metroland.com COVID-19 will continue to put pressure on the public health portion of Halton's budget into 2021. Steve Somerville/Torstar