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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday July 13, 2007 - 5 Region eyes 4% tax increase Regional water rates could jump 6.5% By Melanie Hennessey SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Halton's top ten projects Ten largest dollar value projects proposed in Halton's 2008 tax capital budget: · $27 million -- Halton Regional Centre expansion plans · $16.5 million -- Derry Road widening from two lanes to four from James Snow Parkway to Ninth Line · $6.7 million -- police headquarters realignment · $6.4 million -- Appleby Line widening from four lanes to six from Taywood Drive to Hwy. 407 · $4.9 million -- new QEW interchange at Bronte Road · $4.7 million -- Winston Churchill Boulevard reconstruction from Old Pine Road to River Drive · $4.6 million -- new 16-Mile Creek structures on Dundas Street between Neyagawa Boulevard and Proudfoot Trail · $4.5 million -- Halton waste management transfer facility for the GreenCart program · $4 million -- police facilities/infrastructure, Oakville division · $3.5 million -- improvements at the intersection of Dundas Street and Appleby Line. Halton Regional council has set out its official directions for next year's budget, which could bring about a four per cent tax increase for Halton residents. Council approved the directions at its session Wednesday after hearing details from staff on the proposed $49.70 tax hike (based on a $300,000 assessment) and 6.5 per cent, or $43.86 jump in water and wastewater rates (based on a 300 cubic metre annual consumption). While there was little discussion amongst council members about the numbers, Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette emphasized he doesn't want residents to think they're etched in stone. "These are guidelines," he noted. "I've seen the numbers change many times." Acting Commissioner of Corporate Services Mark Scinocca detailed the big-ticket items driving the proposed budget up, like the $4.5 million more needed for roads projects and $4.1 million to cover inflation and staff compensation. He also said an additional $4 million would be needed for waste management, some of which could help implement the GreenCart program quicker than originally planned, depending on the new 2008 waste collection contract that's being GLASSWARE TABLEWARE STORE FIXTURES ! tionT Atten G OU I CLOS N EVER up to 80 NG IN YTHI E LORE S A ST % off SALE RDA SATU 28TH JULY TIL ON UN Y hammered out. Original budget forecasts had GreenCart costs spread out from 2007 to 2011, but the new contract could accelerate full implementation to 2009. The projected $49.70 tax increase is comprised of two components -- $24.54, or 2.9 per cent more for regional services and $25.16, or 6.2 per cent more for police services. The Region is anticipating a $12-million savings in the 2008 budget now that GTA pooling -- the system Halton and other local regions contributed to to help Toronto pay for its social service costs -- is being phased out. Halton saved $6.1 million this year in pooling costs and dished out the money to the four local municipalities for their infrastructure needs. Council passed a lengthy motion Wednesday that calls for the 2008 budget to be prepared on the basis of making another $6.1 million transfer to the municipalities for infrastructure. The resolution also states that the 2008 tax-supported base budget should be prepared with a tax increase that doesn't exceed 2.9 per cent and the ratesupported budget put together with a maximum rate hike of 6.5 per cent. g thin very Go! E t Mus THE GLASS HOUSE HOPEDALE MALL Classmates witnessed attack Continued from page 1 were controlled," said Lindsay Hudson, a Grade 10 student. Students say the motivation for the stabbing stems from an earlier incident in which the victim had embarrassed his assailant. "They had a beef, I guess if, you want to call it that," said Adam Powell, a Grade 10 student, who also witnessed the attack. "He tripped him earlier in the day, just something little." Despite the incident summer school classes resumed with even witnesses to the attack returning to classes later the same day. "I already called my mom to let her know I was okay, but it's not big," said Powell. "When we had that shooting threat I still went to school. It's just not that big a deal." Lindsay Hudson, a Grade 10 student who normally goes to Oakville Trafalgar High School, but is attending an upgrade course at Iroquois Ridge this summer, was also barely fazed by the attack because of a similar incident that took place in her school. "We had an incident at our school where a guy got stabbed in the head with scissors, they were thrown," she said. "It's been a pretty interesting year." Kerrie Rizzuti, whose daughter is a Grade 10 student at Iroquois Ridge says despite the stabbing and the threatened school shooting of last February she has no reservations about her child being there. "For the most part I think it's a pretty safe school and area," she said. Saturday, July 21, 1pm - 3pm Centre Court · Instructional sessions with MUSS certified instructor · Gauge your kick speed with our radar gun! · Oakville Sports Centre's inflateable sports cage · Obstacle course · Prize Draws Eurodollars stolen in house break-in Halton Regional Police are investigating a break-in at an Oakville east-end home sometime between July 7-9. A door to a home on Ninth Line was forced open. Reported stolen was a Tissot watch valued at $200. Also stolen was an undisclosed amount of cash which included Eurodollars. If you have any information that leads to an arrest in this or any other matter, you may be eligible for a cash reward. You will never have to give your name or testify in court. Crime Stoppers of Halton does not subscribe to call display. Call 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-2228477) or visit www.haltoncrimestoppers.com. GRAND PRIZE DRAW for a 10-week course with Manchester United's Fall Program worth $400 HOPEDALE MALL S H O P R I G H T. Third Line & Rebecca Street, Oakville Tel: 905-827-7146 www.hopedalemall.on.ca IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.