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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, D ec em be r 19 ,2 01 9 | 16 Merry Christmas for all! Only one weekend remains until Christmas and we are counting down the days in anticipation of family gatherings, good food and gifts. However, the sad reality is that many in our community dread this time of year as they struggle to just put food on the table let alone presents under the tree. For over 16 years, Kerr Street Mission has rallied our community with our "Christmas Wonders and Beyond" program to help families in need celebrate this season with joy. Through financial donations from our community we hope to bless over 1500 people with Christmas in a Box this year (gift cards that can be used to purchase food and special gifts, as well as toys, and pajamas.) "You have brought a liYou have brought a liY ttle happiness and joy to my Christmas with your kindness and generosity. Thank you. God bless you" -Christmas Wonders 2019 recipient We are so thankful for all the donations we have already received, so if you have already supported the program we extend our deepest thanks. Our fundraising goal this year is to raise $425,000 and with your help we have already raised $280,000. Please help us reach our goal by December 31st. With your help, we can truly make this the most wonderful time of the year for our neighbours in need. Please consider one of our levels of giving: Visit kerrstreet.com/christmaswonders to get more information. KSM. 485 Kerr Street, Oakville. 905.845-7485. Charitable Reg. No. 897106845RR0001 from our Family to Yours 3400 Ridgeway Dr Unit #9, Mississauga, ON L5L 0A2 905-828-8332 • info@teesindoorgolf.com Gift Cards Available $5 coupon, valid for $5 off your first hour of play. 1 Coupon/Customer/Visit. Not Valid With Other Offers. • Over 75 courses available, include Bethpage Black, Pebble Beach, St Andrews, and more! • Driving Range with full feedback • Mini-putt, Skeeball & other fun simulator activities for the whole family Valid from January 20th, 2020 from our Family to Yours Seasons Greetings Terms and conditions can be rephrased Call to book your TEE time today! coupon must be presented at time of payment to redeem CTA Local residents will be paying a bit more on the regional portion of their tax bill next year. Halton council approved its 2020 budget and business plan during its Dec. 11 session, with a combined tax increase of two per cent for police and regional services.for police and regional services.f Here are five things you need to know about what this increase means for your pocketbook and the municipal services pro- vided by Halton: 1. The two per cent tax increase trans- lates into an additional $6 per $100,000 of the assessed value of your home. For example, if your home is worth $500,000, you will be pay-your home is worth $500,000, you will be pay-y ing $30 more next year in regional taxes. This money goes toward the tax-supported budgets of almost $277 million for regional services and $162 million for police services. 2. Halton also sets the rates for water and sewer services. On this front, local residents can expect to pay an additional 3.3 per cent next year. For a typical home that uses 250 cubic metres of water per year, this will re- sult in an additional $33 for both water and sewer charges. 3. Among the key drivers in the tax-sup- ported portion of the Halton budget are: a $1- million increase in paramedic services to maintain service levels and address call vol- ume pressures; an additional $825,000 to ad- dress the rising cost of keeping local roads in a state of good repair; and $1.3 million more for services for seniors, which are facing in-for services for seniors, which are facing in-f flationary cost increases without equivalentflationary cost increases without equivalentf increases in provincial subsidy. 4. On the water and sewer budget side, the main items driving the rate increase are: a $7.3-million increase to keep water and wastewater infrastructure in a state of good repair; an allocation of almost $20 million for ongoing maintenance of the system; and $2.3 million in ongoing grant funding for Hal- ton's basement flooding prevention pro- gram. 5. Regional taxes are one portion of the property tax bill for local residents. They al- so pay taxes to the town/city where they re- side, along with education taxes. REGIONAL COUNCIL APPROVES BUDGET, 2% TAX INCREASE MELANIE HENNESSEY mhennessey@metroland.com COUNCIL SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT INSIDEHALTON.COM