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M4 - The Canadian Champion, Friday, July 20, 2007 \Town 's taxes could Budget process begits By Stephanie Hounseli CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Residents can expect to pay any- where up to eight per cent more in taxes next year, and will now play the waiting game as the Town's 2008 budg- et proccss hegins. A budget cal! report - which out- lines wbat the anticipated tax increase will be for the next year and sets direc- tions for staff in preparîng the budget -went before counicul Monday nigbt. Town director of corporate services and treasurer I inda Leeds told council a 9.36 per cent tax hike would be nec- essary next year to maintain existing service levels as well as a five per cent increase in 2009. But council directed staff to prepare packages sbowing wbat the operating budget would look like at a maximum of an eigbt per cent increase ($55.67 more for urban residents and $45.97 more for rural based on a $300,000 assessment), as well as witb no tax increase, a tbree per cent tax bîke ($20.88 more for urban residents and $ 17.24 more for rural) and a fîve per cent increase (urban, $34.79 and rural, $28. 73). To get down to a zero per cent increase, staff would bave to look at reductions in various services, Leeds told council. Amongst tbe itemrs driving up tbe 2008 operating budget are staff wages, new debt payments, tbe cost of infla- tion and a decrease in funding froin provincial grants. Ward 3 councillorjan Mowbray said its a waste of Town staffs time to bave to cruncb tbe numbers for a zero per cent increase. "It seems like its a nidîculous exer- cise to put staff tbrougb," Mowbray said. Sbe put forward a motion to tbat effect, but it failed. Council also approved a recommen- dation tbat tbe $738,000 funding received from tbe Region of Halton for 2007 GTA Pooling be included as a funding source in prepaning tbe capital budget. At tbis point, ifs expected budget packages will go out to tbe budget com- mîttee by November 26, and tbe com- mittee will meet for deliberations December Il. Final council appr<)val of tbe budget could be given December 17. Stephanie Houiisell can bc reached ai stlîuess-tCa@vnîltontcaniadianchcîmpion.com. b FARGBE The Canadien,» How-To Peope 1197 1881 Nk. Md $94ý 194 uiq< é - Mb 011ÇUWML00g0 a = *L09990 ý M9i~r(9 mdfa0 ieoptig9g20o k $09e o real)Sm osmydfr fm hý,pon "0"Il, 'l no ,,2p0 Wq2,42,fb e - he n2, n5,8<, equah-s.,,,0,,20It h ,pfr(týn I ,,fr o d2<-po rRsd m cueP SI "' GS .2,2 l y12<1< fe no 0f*d.2,p, a f2222pb' o P Wd AI A R -nn . ,th 2 w.p2 d2lI 2222 on2th sp 20ot.(ant e m ,oed wnh 12> ohe ofer Not <22<,, h VISA i, d, , .- 28 ,2 , Q,0 1(DO 2222022 ýho'1 $ ,,d 10K w-,' 39M9. 420 î r Offers valid at this store only: Mississauga 3115 Argentia Road 905-824-1865 0p99ing hoooo Monday toSatu rday:7 a.m lOpm Great summer offers!1 rbelo M me s ...i c M, m .2. TRCKSHES ffle'iI qPH2SPORT OMIk MUn JOisippsrtidu. bnbYffiay OCI M-i, Me ut WVM P nm m.ms mdw on Wupul.om Iro lae rbuiness log or oIpn. ameher, Ieas cnatyu lsI *,iSalis 4 97 0263ffl , 23 1241, m