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r PHARMACY Mîlton s Independent Pharmacy m. FrêeDelsey * 10% S.doea O4scoent *MOq Pimu Aacsp~sd *VAU~n Dq k~oeuut~ 'At Zaka We Ogre About Yosu Hedtis" 70 Main St. E 875-2424 A Metroland Community Newspaper Vol. 141 No. 3 Fnday, March 24,2000 48 Pages $ 1.00 (GST încluded) «Town budget proposes tax freeze the tax bylaw in case the Province Best budget in years: Challinor By IRENE GENTLE The Champion An operating budget that delivers enhanced services along with a tax freeze passed easily at the Town's administration and finance meeting Tuesday night. For the fiat time, the budget ahowed the effecta of new growth on Town coffers. That amounted to an eatimated $93.000 in new building permit revenues. But it also means the Town will have to shell out for numerous human resource positions to the tune ol $800.000 in order to tackle the increasing population. Legal fees dealing with develop- ment plana are expected to eat up another chunk of the budget "This budget is clearly ahowing we're not preparing for growth any- more," commented committee chair Wally Hunter. "We're staeting to see the impacta. That thought was echoed by Town treasurer Jiro McQueen. "This is a growth-related budget." he said. 'It's not an easy budget to put together when you're dealing with a growth scenario that you haven't had to deal with for a long time." Included in the $8.7 million budget is three fuIl-time tire fighting posi- tions. That helped awell budget expenditures to $19.9 million - or a 16 per cent increase over last year. But that's balanced by a projected 31 per cent hike in non-property tax rev- enuea, leading to the $8.7 million fng- une. Overaîl, the average urban owner ol a $185.000 home can expect to pay $583 in property taxes this year, while the rural owner of the same priced home ahould pony up $535. But a final tax bylaw won't be drawn up until May, when the extent of potential provincial grants will be known. "We'll wait until May to announce pulls a few surprises out of their hats," said Mr. McQueen. Despite those uncertainties, the 2000 budget la a conservative docu- ment, said Town CAO Marjo Belvedere. For example. some abS machine cash and revenues stemming from the Town'a decision so retain Milton Hydro as a business haven't been factored into the budget. Overaîl, the budget was lauded by Mayor Gord Krantz, a sentiment that was seconded by councilbor John Challinor. "I think it's the best bud- get document I've seen i the last nine years on council." The budget will head to council for approval Monday. WE CAN HELP! ~ s Safo' Easy' Ail Naturail * Guarantoed rosuits! No pro-packagad moals, * FREE No-obhgation c shakos or shots! sultation' PRIE botile .1 Cellu-Lose upon Enroinunti ~ 15 Mutin St., _____ Cg-- * *Baaed on fuli pragram, exoludos produot I~I~ Comment.....6 Lit ostylos.12-13 Datoline.15-16 Sports....17-20 Classifiod ... .21-23 * Ceuut*~ Sgpot* * Camalas TIre * Obtus NausV * Futur. 3le5 * Smarl Saurs. * Vas Cuausotlon Crlstullo'u * SATURDAY MARCH 25. Suars * Walmart * IDA SeI.ctsd aras only DIOVOUR LATEST DIET... ~