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A Metroland Community Newspaper «Jsing Communication to Build Better Communîties" Vol. 144 No. 73 Tuesday, November 25, 2003 48 Pages $1.00l (GST included) Photo by GRAHAM PAINE #Anticipation.. Trhree-year-oId Jenny Paulett keepe an eye oui for Sante as ihe Milion Santa Claus Parade make Kie way Up Bronte Street Sunday aftemoon. Sea more parade photos on page 13. =eOWNFEKUIAN P=E. IMCLUDEDI L~3 see Seler for compWee cleteils.P <>TOYOTrA 400 StaesW Avenu 905875-1700 Police board seeks 13.4 %budget hike By HOWARD MOZEL Special to The Champion While the Halton Regional Police Services Board has approved a $70-miliion police budget for 2004 - a 13.4 per cent increase over this year - its mem- bers wamed Thursday that the public may soon balk at this esca- lafing expense. "We juat can't keep tbiese spiraling coss gom-g," said boatrd member Jack Brewer. --Equipment safe: HHS In ligbt of recently-reposted sterilization problema at Toronto's Sunnybrook and Women's Health Sciences Centre, Halton Healtbcare Services (HHS) is assuring rea- idents its equipment is safe. HHS, wbicb operates Milton District and Oakville-Trafalgar Memonial bospitals, conducted an audit of some of its disinfec- tion procedures last Tuesday. Trhe audit Iooked as procedures associated witb tbe instruments used for trans-rectal prostate biopsies. Tbe prostate biopsy procedure is pet- fonned only in tbe diagnostic imaging department as tbe Oakville site, nos in Milton. On November 14, tbe Ministry of Healtb and Long-Term Care directed ail Ontario bospitals to complete an audit of infection control practices sbrougbout all dbe clinical, diagnostic and supply areas. People witb questions regarding tise biopsy procedure can contact Oakville bos- pital's diagnostic imaging deparunent by calling (905) 878-2383. "This is significant. Eacb year it increas- es., In defense of bis budget, Cbief Ean Algar explained tbat he bais littie or no control over many costs, ranging from salaries, benefits, debt associated with capital expenditures and provincially-mandated adequacy standards. Left-field expenses like the Auguat 14 blackout also bave an impact. 1I don't bave tbe flexibility that you seek," sasd Cbief Algar, who vowed nonetbeless to continue looking for sav- mngs. "We're seeing a continuai pull on our resources tbat take away from our day-to- day routine." Tbie 2003 operating budget totalled $61.7 million. Next year's budget - if approved as-is by Halton regional council - would include funds for 19 unifonned officers and il civilians. It also encompasses a bost of otber costs, including $2.5 million for sS BOARD on page 21 Comment ........ 6 Business....9-10 Dateline ....23-24 Classified .... 29-31 Real Estate .... RE T- into death "if il-llnat»e $ q I ¶