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4-The Canadian Champion, Fniday, JuIy 25, 2003 /Looks like regional taxes are going up, as well By JASON MISNER The Champion Regruonal staff are forecastîng as igh as a 4.9 per cent tax hike- or about $43 per household on an average-assessed home of $220000, as well as a 8.5 per cent increase- or $43 per housebold - on water and sewer rates. AIl totalled, that would add home $86 to resi- dents' overaîl annual buils over the previous tax year. But that doesn't include the impact of the Halton Regional Police budget, pegged tem- porarily at a 7.4 per cent hike. Factor ibat in, and the ultimate regional tax impact rises to 5.6 per cent, or $67 per household (excluding water and sewer). To further muddy the waters, Haîton police haven't yet approved their budget and are con- sidering an even bigger increase of 12 per cent. 'hat means residents' overaîl tax buils would grow to 6 per ccent (excluding wateranud sesseri. rcsuling ut a 2 per cent Iike. -We stili bave a lot of work we bave ru go througb." cautioned the Regon's treasurer and commîssioner of corporare services Jane MacCaskill, about possible changes as staff works diligently to bring a recomnrended budg- et for counicillors to mulI over in late November. The budget is slated for oîfficial approval Januaiy 22. In addition to the 4.9 per cent increase, Ms MacCaskill said staff will also present a budget with a 3 per cent tax increase as per councillors' request. But the forecast so far shows the Region will have to fork out about an extra $10.2 million in 2004 to accommodate a number of financial pressures. * M OE I-inSuacprmms Ues DNLAE n00 "These impacts are largely not related to neos proIrgranîs butrrr irher rdditioînali budetrtrccir( Lots of pressures Specifiealiy, the pressures include: - Costs to fIgbit West N le virus itirtugbte Region's iarviciding program. - The opening of iwo rtew lotîg-termn care iaîcil- ities, one eacb in Buringiori and tiakviile, as well as opening ambulance centres ai ibuse lacîl- itires. " Salary and bcnef-it adjustmenîs l'tr staff. " Road responsibilities, especially lfoi improvements along Hîgbways 5 and 25. These two roadways were downloaded trom the Province to the Region in 1998. - Funding f'or Conservation Halion, and the Grand River and Credit Valley authorîties. 2003 MURANO Starting at $39,500 * 245HP 3.5-i/aeDOHCaang/esrhtosac CV ransmission-Alt hi sh drie - Astischag Otahe Siystaat-i18" Aloy shes Cscoatrol 'AMFMCassette aado sysram sth os dash 6 ds CD chasger Heare seats and more.. £VVUàIà%MI NriUtK CHILKooTEDmI'ONC $3 9 pe mothluise foe4meei wf$5,50 dw. $39NOUDES DESTiNATiON AND0 DEUVERY. Or finance the purchase of your vehicle for 0,90/o for 36 months: 240 HP 3 5lite DOHC engine 4speatoî wh overdrive *Sll-Moda 4 oheet drive -150 swat os& CD audosysta/assps incash 6 disc autochagr - 8-ay adîussabla osas/s sea/ -Ar conditioning - Elccranic coaapass & outside a/speaar a spay - Ra/otearca gala glass elasa -Andasch, mach more. t - - aý 2003 ALTI MA 2.5S $ 89 pe meeutuu tor 48 menths wuth $3,160 dowe: $2 9 ICOUDES DESTINAION AND DEUVERY. * 175HhP 25-1/reaDOHCa/ngso.-Atrcsditioning.AMIFM wir5GD000d systa', and 6 speakers - Passa, haaed outsidea a//os/ 60/40 spi/mra' 54/! ssloCk 8 iy manaadrivea/s seat -TMand/Otalascopesrn o/,o.,mn *And mch, much more ~ ~ 5A' OSECURîTY DEPOSîT AND O PAYMENTS FOR SCRf 90 DAYS ON ALL 2003 ArriMA MOPELS* 2003 XTERRA XE PS moeS M f o 48 inoatis ih$408 dome $3 38 INCLUDES DESTNATION 884D DEUVERY. *180HiP 33 ire SOHC V6 asgea- Passwea dososasnad dos, sU', - Sde stap rais -Pao ta/a e4 weal daivasys/as -Tbula, rssf rack wrth/aemosablaskse and wiad delec/s/.-Air coaditoning Andr.Aas HURRY IN FOR LOW LEASE RATES AND FINANCUNG AS LOW AS 0&9" FOR 36 MONTHS ON REMAINING 2003 SENTRA, AND MAXIMA MODEMS ALSO FOR 2003 SENTR" & ALTiMA ENJOY * SECUJITY DEPOSUT (OmA.CQ) OR NMO PAYM ENTS FOR THE FIRST 90, DAYS<> THE NEW 2004 SENTRA Starting at $15,59" 12HP 1.8 lite DOHC engme - 15 Steel ehees -.8-Way manual dssves sear* -Tilt steeing Osai ar bags -60/40 split fodng bench I NORTHEND THE NEW 2004 MAXIMA Starting at $34,500*' *265HP 35-ltre DONC V6 ea8,se - 8" teowes -8 *Halogea heaeihghts -Skyew oof aset8Wayore's sea *Heate frot seats.Be8-peaka, ose do sst MFM cas settassath 6dsc iadash CO change n uc oe. 610 MARTIN STREET, MILTON ~~ 905-878-4137 And white not an issue specifie only to Haiton, irrpiîs im 5/5 i 'ir/ , t , (>rîgînally i was anticipatcd Ir bit 3.3 per centi but bas sîrnce becîtreviseri andidsexpeeteul lu reaeb îînly 23 per cent (tue tri a sl erbceunr- my, tbe osarirn Iraq, a surgirg (anadian dolar anrd tire stirîg of SARS andI mari tros drsease btrting tite lîurrrsnr rnrusîry. Said Ms Mac('askill: W're very tîsîiaenced by the eccririy." frrurrciliiirs osere oary tri ihe puittrias a bîkes. Miltoîn Mayorr (irnilKrant/ baid lie supçxîrts a trîke rrnly as, bigli as, tIhe-rate oIfiationr. [le sard be tan't crnirrol the budget ioi pelice .services, but -anything I bave control and juris- diction over oson't go river the rate of inflation." Oakville Regional Councillor Allan Elgar saîd