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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday February 9, 2007 - 7 Portable ice rink axed from Town budget By Kim Arnott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Robbed in underground lot Halton police are investigating a robbery in an underground parking lot in Oakville on Feb. 4. Around 7 p.m., a woman was exiting her car in the underground parking at 50 East St. when she was confronted by a man who indicated he had a gun and wanted her money. A second man took the victim's purse. The woman was unharmed. Both suspects were in their early '20s. One is black, six foot and wore a dark sweater and toque. The second suspect is 5-ft.-10 with long hair and an olive complexion. They fled in a dark colored, four-door vehicle driven by a third man. If you have information that leads to an arrest you may be eligible for a cash reward. You will never have to give your name or testify. Call 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-222-8477) or visit www.haltoncrimestoppers.com. "My theme for this budget is really about value for dollars." Oakville councillors got their Ray Green, Town of Oakville CAO first look at the Town of Oakville's proposed 2007 budget Thursday, which calls for a 4.9 per cent tax hike. The $166.7 million operating budget will result in an annual residential tax increase of $15.52 per $100,000 of assessment. So a homeowner with a property assessed at $350,000 will pay $54.33 more in Town taxes. Add in the approved Halton Region tax hike of 2.5 per cent, and the total property tax increase rises to $89.90. For those who like the `less than a cup of coffee' type of analysis, the Town has broken that down to $1.04 per week for the Town portion of the increase, or $1.72 for the combined tax hike. In a short presentation to the 2007 budget committee, Town treasurer Patti Elliott-Spencer noted that about 2.5 per cent of the tax increase is a result of increased costs required to continue to provide the same services the Town did in 2006. Rising expenses include salaries and benefits, utilities, fuel, office supplies and construction. However, assessment growth has offset some of those increases, noted Elliott-Spencer. The cost of additional proposed services adds an extra two per cent to the tax increase, while one per cent has been added in to help finance projects in the $53.1 million capital budget. Ward 3 Councillor Keith Bird, who is chairing this year's Budget Committee, had previously said that he hoped to keep the town tax increase to about 3.5 per cent. However, he suggested he was happy with the proposed budget as a starting point for the committee to work with. "A lot of the heavy lifting has been done by staff," said Bird, noting that wish list items have already been reviewed in detail. "Clearly they haven't just thrown everything in there." The committee will hear a series of staff and public presentations over the coming three weeks, and will have the opportunity to "ensure that staff priorities mesh with council and public priorities," said Bird. One quarter of the Town's $166.7 million operating budget, or $40 million will be spent on culture and recreation, parks and open space, and library services. Another 15 per cent ($25 million) will be spent on roads, public works and construction, while 12 per cent ($19.5 million) will go toward fire services. The Town will spend about 10 per cent of its operating budget ($16 million) on transit, while the remaining 40 per cent ($66.7 million) will cover planning, corporate administration and all other expenses. Property taxes provide the Town with about 57 per cent of its funding, while fees and charges provide another 24 per cent of revenues. The remainder of the Town's funding comes from a vari- ety of sources, including grants and interest payments. New expenditures include: · $150,000 toward the Town's 150th anniversary celebrations. · $30,000 for the development of a 2007-2010 strategic plan. · $50,000 to install cameras and make lighting improvements at Oakville and Bronte harbours. · $125,000 for a five-year transit plan. · $200,000 to provide Care-AVan services on Sundays. · $503,000 toward a GTA Fare Card project. · 27 new full-time staff positions. Town staff has also recommended against a number of expenditures discussed by Town council last year. Included in that list is funding for a graffiti eradication strategy ($220,000), and financing for the purchase of a portable artificial ice surface (about $325,000). "My theme for this budget is really about value for dollars," Town CAO Ray Green told the 2007 Budget Committee. The committee consists of Bird, Ward 1 Councillor Alan Johnston, Ward 2 Councillor Cathy Duddeck, Ward 4 Councillor Roger Lapworth and Mayor Rob Burton. Meetings will be held to hear staff presentations on the budget on Feb. 14 (1:30-5 p.m.), Feb 16 (9 a.m.-1 p.m.) and Feb. 19 (1-5 p.m.). Public delegations and deliberations are scheduled for Feb. 22 (1-5 p.m.), March 1 (9 a.m.-1 p.m.) and March 6 (7:30-10 p.m.), if required. The target date for council approval of the 2007 budget is March 26. Storewide Sale to serve you better ... Two locations 1029 Speers Rd., Oakville (Speers Rd. & 4th Line - Main Location) 905.842.3739 2342 Lakeshore Rd. W., Bronte Village, Oakville 905.469.9876 www.joshuacreekfurniture.com OTMH art raffle Feb. 16 The Auxiliary to Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital is holding a raffle for a Jenny Hellers enamel-on-copper painting entitled Family Symphony. The art piece, valued at over $5,800, was donated to the Auxiliary to OakvilleTrafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) for the purpose of fundraising. All raffle proceeds will go to the Auxiliary's $1.25 million pledge toward the HHS Critical Support Campaign for the Maternal-Child and Diagnostic Imaging Programs. Raffle tickets are on sale in the hospital's Treasure Cove Gift Shop and main lobby Monday to Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The draw will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16. Tickets cost $5 or three tickets for $10. Raffle tickets can also be purchased by calling 905-330-9555. Get Stroke Smart & Understand TIA's February 15, from 1:30 - 3:30 pm at The Kensington Retirement Residence February is Heart & Stroke Month. Join us for a free presentation and find out the warning signs of Strokes and Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA's). Presented by The Heart & Stroke Foundation and Classic Care Pharmacy. RSVP 905-844-4000 Free BP Monitoring · Raffle · Refreshments The Kensington 25 Lakeshore Road W., Oakville (905) 844-4000 www.lrc.ca LFKENON020