www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, November 20, 2013 | 2 Region eyes zero per cent hike on taxes by Bob Mitchell Special to the Beaver WIN A $1,000 SHOPPING SPREE! NOVEMBER 1524 We've made your holiday shopping easy with our Gift of Perfect Guide, available at oakvilleplace.com and pinterest.com. Head to the Gift of Perfect lounge in Centre Court to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list! Tell us your favourite item in the Gift of Perfect Guide, and you could win a RioCan Oakville Place shopping spree or daily prizes!* Purchase an item from our Gift of Perfect Guide, and you'll double your chances to win the $1,000 shopping spree! EACH DAY WE'LL FEATURE A NEW PRIZE IN OUR LOUNGE, WHICH MEANS A NEW CHANCE TO WIN EVERY DAY! The average Halton homeowner could pay a Regional tax hike about equal to a case of pop on sale or a fast food kid's meal in 2014. But they will not see it on their tax bill. There will be no increase for Regional services, which will likely stay the same at $766 per household. When you add in police services, the average Halton homeowner's Regional portion of their overall tax bill will increase by $4 based on a budget presented Nov. 13 to councillors. However, that will be offset so taxpayers do not pay the difference. Regional council still must approve the $225-million budget, which it's expected to decide Dec. 11. Under the proposal presented by Mark Scinocca, Halton's finance commissioner and Regional treasurer, a Halton home assessed at $350,000 will generate $1,207 in property taxes, an increase of $4 over 2012. However, Scinocca said the zero per cent tax increase was achieved by "enhancing or maintaining Halton's core services." Homeowners will also pay an additional $35 in combined water and utilities next year on average. A projected 1.5 per cent increase in assessment will keep the non-police costs to a zero increase for the Region's tax-supported programs and services. These include water and wastewater, regional roads and planning, paramedic services, public health and social assistance, various children's and seniors' see Hike on p.13 inside today's Editorial Artscene Sports Classified Beaver 6 16 18 21 www.insideHALTON.com *See Guest Services for full contest details. oakvilleplace.com 905-842-2140 Salvation Army, Real Estate, Tasty Food House, United Postal Service, Dental Destination, Terra Greenhouses, National Sports, XS Cargo, Bouclair, Home Depot, Sport Chek, Bouclair, Sheridan Nurseries, Staples *All flyers not necessarily delivered to all homes For home delivery & customer service call 905-6316095, 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington New subscriptions call 905-631-6095 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com