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6- The Oakville Beaver, Friday November 30, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: The Oakville Beaver is a division of IAN OLIVER Group Publisher Media Group Ltd. NEIL OLIVER Publisher JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA CALHOUN Circ. Manager Putting a price on safety The Halton Regional Police Services Board last week approved an increase of 8.2 per cent for the services' 2008 operating budget. The final decision on the budget now rests with Halton Regional Council. At first glance an 8.2-per cent boost appears a tad steep as that increase will factor into the tax hike Halton residents will see when regional council begins setting its 2008 budget. However, the proposed $99-million budget for police services next year translates into an additional $23 a year that an average Halton homeowner (with a home assessed at $300,000) will have to pay. Is an extra $23 a year exorbitant? We don't think so. With so many of us preoccupied with our busy lives -- juggling family and work commitments with long-term goals -- it's easy to overlook how lucky we are to live in a region where the daily threat of crime is minimal. Part of Halton's appeal is its relatively low-crime rate, which permits residents to participate in all the region has to offer with very little fear of becoming a victim of crime. No one should be so afraid for their safety that they feel like a prisoner in their own home. For those who do feel safe living and/or working in Halton and comfortable walking its streets at night, it's important to understand that this peace of mind doesn't come by accident and it costs money to maintain. In appearing before the police services board, Halton Police Chief Gary Crowell did what is expected of him -- he pointed out the need for more cash to pay for, among other things, more officers, mandated and legislated changes, increased demands and increased expenses. He also noted the high number of officers who are approaching retirement eligibility. Naturally, he also mentioned the fact that Halton is "one of the safest communities in Canada." Frankly, that is what should be at the heart of the discussion when regional councillors make their decision on the budget. Halton is, indeed, a relatively safe community, but it is also a growing one. With increased population comes an increase in criminal activity. In order to offset that, our local police service should have the necessary means to deal with crime and ensure the region remains "one of the safest communities in Canada." A community's police service should be considered part of the community's infrastructure. Without maintenance and upgrading, it can begin to show signs of weakness. While we encourage the police service -- like any organization funded by tax dollars -- to continue to find efficiencies wherever possible, there is no doubt a viable police service makes for a better Halton. Paying an additional $23 next year to ensure that viability seems a fair price. For those who would support a zero per cent increase in the police budget we would humbly ask how much is your personal safety worth? The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Book should be enjoyed As one who can't imagine not taking a break and transporting myself to other worlds and places in a book, I am saddened by the shortsighted decision of the Halton Catholic District School Board to pull the Golden Compass. It's a very interesting policy to pull a book based upon one complaint then hold a review, it's a policy that strikes me as being open to a fair amount of abuse. I would like to suggest those who have made this mind-boggling decision also read the article BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com Literacy leads to a brighter future for all in The Oakville Beaver, Nov. 23 that starts off with four of 10 Canadians affected by low literacy. Any book or series of books like the Golden Compass or the Harry Potter series that encourages children to read and open their imaginations should be encouraged not discouraged. I hope that after the review that this book is allowed to be read and the story enjoyed. GORD MACKENZIE Pud Thanks for the support We would like to thank all the volunteers for their help during our annual food drive. The Oakville community has been very generous to us in giving food to those in need. It was a success and it is because of our caring community we are able to continue helping families that need us the most. Salvation Army would like to take this opportunity to give a heartfelt thanks to everyone for their time and generosity. BEV GARDNER, INTERIM COMMUNITY SERVICES CO-ORDINATOR THE SALVATION ARMY ,OAKVILLE The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.