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The Canadian Champion Rday March 12 2004-15e -Cash not extinct from CH budget Excitîng.times ahead 1-he Champion Conservation Halton's board of directors recently pasced a nearly $16 million budg- et for 2004, marking a 16.8 per cent increase over last year in the amount of fundmng coming from, municipalities largely, Halton Region. Contmnuing the stance taken when the 2004 preliminary budget was presented to the board last June, Mayor Gord Krantz along with Halton His councillor Clark Somerville - voted againet the recom- mendation that $3,387,946 of 2004's $15,824,264 budget cornte froin municipal levies and fundioag. "'m not in favour of 16 and 17 per cent increases," Mr. Krantz said at Conservation HalIon's (CH) board of directoro meeting Febmuary 26. Laot year, only $2,900,000 of the budget came froin municipal levies and funding. Halton Region it by far CH's major municipal supporter, accounting for about 90 per cent of uts municipal funding. "h doesn't manter what board or agency it its, it just goes against my grain to bave double digit icreases," Mn Kazantz said in an interview with The Champion. "The single biggett complaint 1 hear is there's toc, much dam tait. I'm always conscious of that.' Last year's budget totalled $11,349,605, making tbis year's budget 39 per cent bigh- er. Mr. Krantz, who bas been on CH's board of directors for about 30 years, said it's not CH's expenditures becs opposed to, but wbere the funding cornes front. He sald be thinks the funding sbould corne largely froin the province, wbere it used tocome froin, rather than municipali- Bc-,idc. iattion Regioii, lCi icLCives minimal financial support froin Mississauga, Puslincb and Hamilton. Theresa Maguire-Garber, CH's CAO/secretary-treasurer, said the 2004 budget dernonstrates CH's ability to be self-sustaining, rather than relying on taxes. Almost 79 per cent of the budget is non- tait supported, with uter fees accounîing for 60 per cent of itt funding. User fees include admission fees for CH's parks, map fees, permit fees and pro- gramns at the parks. As CH offers new and expanded programs, that figure mncreases, Ms Maguire-Garber said. 'Me 2004 budget stuck to CH's figures determined in a l0-year forecast put together st year, she said. Ms Maguire-Garber said one reason for the 39 per cent budget increase is a capital projeets; initiative has been built into the budget. "There are a number of capital projects that need to be done," Ms Maguire-Garber said. But, if they were all buili into this budg- et, the recuit would be a huge increase. So, its being built slowly but surely into each year's budget, she sald. Ten years froin 00W, CH will be "in a more fnaisciaily sustainable mode to, meet our capital needs," Ms Maguire-Garber said. There bas alto been a $2 million increase in Glen Eden operating and capital pro- grains, which includes the new tube park and tbe pedectrian bridge that was recently lifted into place. As well, there's the re-introduction of Ontario Municipal Employee Retirement V6,5 speed, 0/D, AO, P/W, PL, croise & tilt, 1 owner trade-in, balancentf Ford extended service plan, only 23,320 km. SI#2223A t ilt power seat balance of Ford nuFade ry Warranty, SI#217tA PST& OT NLY EXTrRA A@Uà- INCLUDRD WARRANT IF NEDED Problemwith Credit? Bad Credit-*Discharged Bankrupt * No Credit N.ed a vebicle? We eau helpi We help good people wlt credit problems. Qet finaned with the best possible ratesIll Call ef Omon tthe lisrgci budget. CH's initiatives include flood concrol, natural areas protection, enviroomental planning and the provision of conservation areas for educational and recreational use. Steplianie Thiessen can be reached ai sthiessen@miltoncanadianchampion c-arn. i voier suppoelt. Her entbusisi was evident. "lin just plain excited about what's coming our way." Appointees on the board are selected by their municipal coundcil. Stephanie Thiessen can be reached at sthiessen@aia'on- canadianchampion.com. t11 IY [Left to right: Jerry Gilroy, Joe DnOrio, Stuart Standen, Michael Sonher] Direct Energy's Energy Management Consultants are great people f0, know. They're knowledgeahle and respected experfs when if cornes ti making your home a more coinfortable place. And as members of the Direct Energy teain, theyr're part of the largest group of service professionals in Ontario, huilt on a foundation of 150 years of home service experience. When you have home comfort questions in the Qakylile, Burlington and Milton Regions give thein a cail at 1-866-240-6820. Speaking of keeping your borne coinfortable, here's a fact f0 warm up f0: Direct Energy Essential H-ome Services bas installed more borne heating systeins than ariyone in Ontario. Purchase any new furnace by March 3lst, 2004 and: -Receive a FREE 5 year Protection Plan* covering most parts and labour. aDon't pay for 90 dayst. eChoose from trusted brands like Carrier, Trane and Comfortmaker. 90s k. n yîaîh . i n r~0ani~ e~l~* îr'î'~i U cronsuttatîcîti wtth a ~i'., Man con mc rit Crînsuti hrtl . I Diteit 0,tetqy aîd tht Etetgy Rail 5,sigî ttadteatkî ai Dieit Eneegy Matkîtiîq Uîtird. *Maît natîhaîn by Mn,îh 31n~, 2004 Offet aîly a~Iid ta, itîtaliatitîn iaanieted by 4pe~I 301h, 2004. apptaad itîdit atd nananat b, a4,eb,î,d aath at~y anhe, affect Oîk n~, dînait. îoeanptaaed atedt 04, fa, dta,5 nhe 90 day defettal affet a aaailable at ,eleaned heat~îg eya~pe~eet nataicanel Itat, 0,eeat Eeeîqy EînettaI Hanne Sens,,,, bilanî MataF 314, 2004 aîd ,nîtalled by on,,' 3015. 2004 ahen fieann0edli400.00m~n~nenelinh0~eeatleencyEîîenitaii-ianeeSen'aenNapaynnnennt ac~nteneanaaIIbeahange0aeihebaIan~ae qn~IappnaateIy90daynfnann~ tht date nI tîtaltatat. A, adennstnaiann tee aI $1995 aIan~q aith anîiiaabie îaaeî ait payable an tht nnne aI panahaît Ihene att ta petaltet lat eanly paynlnttt, tht ,aataetes. Fallaaatq tht 90 day detentai petad, nase tant ai ,tteteît nhatged aII dtpetd tht aittaatt Otatatd lailaaî, asnta benatet $40000 atd $199999 aaotsetttecest an 14.96% îet atîsyt, atiaints bettatet $200000 atd $499999 ,aIi asatat Itetent an 1596% net antan,, attiasets ai $500000 atd Oteatet acatiietteteît at 12.96% pet actant ~ a $300000 nanahane fitataed aI 15.965, net att,,, eqaalt 572.09 net ittatîh lat 60 tiattîn. Tht aa0 aI baceaat4 4 $1.373 43 tac a talai tepayabit ai $437343 r_.