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2-The Canadian Champion, Friday, January 23, 2004 1TIS A NEW YEAR. goW ABOUT A USED CuI Our "One & Only Sait"of lhe ycar Is on now - but only ungil january 31s1. Se comt in today! Open Sundays llam go 4pm go scrft yon beer Can'I hind M bhre? Ched ou www.torrudsautooronp.com How many more cars do we have on our lot? A lot. In fact we have over 350 automobiles and trucks with more arriving each and every day. 2002 t Sioma CE (only 30,332km!!) New $27,995 2MB OUC Sisrra SL UN00 Ton 4x4 (only 30,601 km!!) New $27,995 2083 Togeta_Çeela Sport (only 491m9km!! New $19,995 2002 Ford Escape XLS (only 95.442kml) Mew 618,895 2002 Ford Foins ZS (only 30,058kmÜl) M 814,995 2M li 0X4 Ooatw.power nmnofi Now 324,995 2002 Ford Windstar LX (only 17,66knIl He 815,995 2002 Olds Alore GX (Onl 73O68kmll) New 810 995 2002 Toyeta Caury SE (only 86,088kmll> Mew $22,995 2002 ldo Aloro 08 <on4 44l7lI>Nw153m5 2001 0ldeGanod Couavas Sport <oný 99,253kim"> Mow 814,995 luis 580 lOlOrmîl hi. .uu4 on $2M00 20 edeCVG AWB (n 233km!!)Ne 2,9 miBd otin L (ol 471km!! e 1,9 2001 Pmtilam Grand AN SE (only 70,887km!)$ 2001 Sature SL2 (only 49,003kml!) Mw 11,995 d d pou pl& mm) lu 3% 1 20M Cv Blazer LS (only 57,224km!!) »M ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ e anW22,995M e*3921o -e4,4,9 2M00 Chrymlor Mm LE <only 75,2D400!)New 21,995 20M0MUoumMaxima BE <only B9.Olkml>New 18,995 2§UPui&l Motan(lý 6,22km)Mou 812 995 M00 hau mi Pk &T iw Uion _2M_ýý l . (enm0,ýqRk!1)New $19,95 New 811,495 ~ Mou 819,805 199 T 4 r mymr SE (only 97,4km!l) New $8 1998bukk (only 72.784km New 18,995 We're one of Southern Ontario's largest used car dealerships! (GORRUD 410 SELS AVEmmE, m MIIIJN AU TOý) 905-85-2277 -Counicil approves tax hike of 1.6% But Mayor Krantz votes against it By JASON MISNER The Champion Halton politicians voted overwhelmingly for a regional tax hike that will result in the hiring of more health staff, the operation of two new public long-term care facilities and expanded garbage pick-up. On Wednesday, councillors voted 18-2 in approving a 1.6 per cent tax hike for 2004, amounting to an increase of $13.50 on a home assessed at an average of $250,000. Last year's increase for regional services was only 0.7 per cent. The regional portion of the average homeowner's 2004 tax bill - excluding impacts from the Halton Police Services budget, which contains a 10.1 per cent increase - will come in at $871.85. The police budget has been sent back to the police services board by the Region to sec if further cuts can be made. Also, water and wastewater rates will rise by 9.1 per cent, or an extra $46.62 on an average household. Water rate bills are paid separate from regional tax bills. Factoring in the tax levy, water and sewer rates and the current police budget, total regional taxes would amount to $1,800.41, a 5.5 per cent hike over last year. Milton council, meanwhile, passed a 2 per cent tax increase last month, amounting to an average household increase of $12. The Region's total operating budget for 2004 is slightly higher than $447 million. Halton Chair Joyce Savoline said the budget is justified, particularly because it will provide for better health protection for residents. "Health and safety, that is our mandate, that is our responsibility," she said after the meeting. "I think in Halton we made those courageous decisions." Budget highlights include: • Hiring 13 staff people for the health department, including an associate medical officer of health, to meet a number of needs such as food safety and emerging infec- tious diseases, like West Nile virus. • Some $2.5 million of waste manage- ment improvements, among which include expanding rural roadside garbage and/or blue box collection in Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills. • Taking over responsibility for roads with higher maintenance costs through a deal reached with the lower-tier municipal- ities last year. • The opening of two new long-term care facilities this year, one each in Burlington and Oakville at a cost of $741,300. • Opening an ambulance centre in Burlington at a cost of $183,100. - Salary and benefit adjustments for staff. • Ozonation at water treatment plants to better treat drinking water, like in Oakville. The Region's finance staff had proposed a hike of 1.9 per cent, but a budget review committee Monday made $559,100 worth of changes to get it to 1.6 per cent. It included cutting a blue box program, at a cost of $59,000, for BIAs in the four municipalities that currently don't get the service. Staff will be investigating the pro- gram further. ,-9 ,.,,l@4VTZ on page 34 Obviously, sone conditions apply ta at ofthe beneflts tisted above (unfortunately, sore rotten appies have tried ta raike advantage af our generosity and good nature). We' give you the full details when we see you. '-j - - - - - - - - - -- -------- -----------