Oakville Beaver, 7 Dec 2007, p. 4

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4- The Oakville Beaver, Friday December 7, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Dietrichs Celebrate the Holidays with SE PLEAR IN RDE NCE O ADVA Regional taxes aiming to climb in 2008 By Melanie Hennessey SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER $289 $ 99 $ 99 $499 42 $329 $ 99 $799 3 $ 99 6 $ 289 $ 29 4 $ 99 4 $699 $799 MEAT WAREHOUSE PROUDLY SERVING OAKVILLE SINCE 1986 3r 3rd Line 905-847-5295 1260 SPEERS X Unit 13 4t 4th Line N Dorval 1260 Speers Rd. Unit 13, Oakville QEW It's that time again for Halton residents to find out how much more they could be paying in taxes next year -- a proposed figure that currently sits at $46. Halton Region's 2008 budget, which would bring about the tax increase, was endorsed by the municipality's health and social services and planning and public works committees this week. The potential $46.13 increase, or 3.7 per cent, is comprised of a $24.59 hike for regional services and a $21.54 jump for police services, explained Halton Director of Financial Planning and Budgets Mark Scinocca. These figures are based on a $300,000 property assessment. This means the average resident could be paying $1,304.08 next year for the regional portion of their tax bill. The largest chunk of that sum -- $427 -- goes to police. Other big ticket items include $150 for transportation services, $130 for waste management, $88 for housing initiatives and $70 for services for seniors. "The Region continues to provide a high value of service," Scinocca noted. Water and sewer rates are also slated to go up by $43.98, or 6.5 per cent, based on an average annual consumption of 300 cubic metres. This would equate to a total water and wastewater bill of $718.69. Pooling savings go to GreenCart, roads Now that GTA pooling -- the system that helps Toronto pay for its social services -- is being phased out, the Region expects to see a $5.8 million savings in its budget next year and each year until 2013. For 2008, the extra funds are proposed to go toward accelerating the GreenCart program ($1.5 million), a transportation master plan program ($3 million), providing 100 additional childcare spaces ($1 million) and restoring a family counselling program ($300,000). A little more than $6 million was saved this year and slated for local infrastructure requirements. In speaking with the Beaver, Regional Chair Gary Carr indicated he's pleased the Province has helped the Region with the pooling phase out, but emphasized that more needs to be done at Queen's Park to free up money in the budget for much-needed infrastructure. "New growth isn't paying for "New growth isn't paying for itself. We can't continue with financing the way it's been done. They (the Province) need to do their part in helping with infrastructure." Gary Carr, Halton Regional Chair itself," he pointed out. "We can't continue with financing the way it's been done. They (the Province) need to do their part in helping with infrastructure." He noted that through the Fairness for Halton campaign, the Region is calling for several changes at the provincial level, such as to the Development Charges Act to make growth truly start paying for itself. He pointed out that with the discounts the Province allows under the act, the Region is losing $16.3 million per year in development charge revenues. "That's a huge amount," he said. "If we don't get the changes then we'll have to say to the Province we can't grow any more." The Region council committees heard from several local groups that had funding requests and budget suggestions, like the BurlingtonHalton chapter of Make Poverty History. That group which urged the Region to amend the budget to invest the $5.8 million in GTA pooling savings into programs that promote strong social infrastructure to reduce poverty in Halton. The Bruce Trail Conservancy also asked for $13,000 to help with its operations related to trails in Halton. The planning and public works committee supported providing the money from the Region's `Green Fund' for 2008. The proposed budget will go before Halton Region's budget review committee on Monday, Dec. 17. From there, the proposed budget will head to regional council for final consideration on Wednesday, Dec. 19.

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