Real Estate SPORTS See what's mustang s ?is n the market humbledi1 inside rage 21 A METROLAND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER VOL. 145 NO. 23 40 PAGES "Using Communication to Build Better Communities" Halton dishing out more than its share Report on pooling system released By JASON MISNER Special to The Champion Halton has crunched the num- bers and its fmnancial stewards say, if the Province did ils calculations correctly, the Region could save nearly $7 miàllion a year in social services pooling costs paid annu- ally to Toronto. But Halton ultimately wants Use Ontario government to abolish pooling completely and use more appropriate revenue sources like income taxes to fund stiflmng social housing and assistance costs. A much-anticipatcd regional staff report was released at Wednesday's administra- tion and finance committec meeting exam- ining the conîentious issue of pooling. It's a system Usat involves a handful of GTA municipalities Usat psy a portion of Ueir tax dollars - collected from property taxes - to help Toronto pay for its social servic- es programs. T'Me report was requested by counicillors to study what thse impact would be on Halton if nearby Hamilton was to be included in pooling, which it currently isnt. Hamilton has asked the Province to bc part of the system. -/Sweet treat Slx-year-old Olivia Spence enjoys ail the treats that E.W. Fostersa Mayfest had to offer, lncludlng cotton candy and face painting. The avant was held Saturday. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE 'Me lI(-page report concluded Halton is paying more than it should be. It stated its current pooling contribution is based on outdated average assessment base figures. Staff determined the current pooling cost for Halton should be around $28.4 million dollars a year based on actu- al assessment numbers. Comparing that figure to Use 2003 pool- ing contribution of $35.2 million, Halton would save $6.8 million. Accordmng to the report, Halton pays mure Usan $28 million to adsninistcr its own social services needs, excludmng GTA pooling costs. If Hamilton is added to Use cuntent pool- ing system, using Use 1998 tax figures, Halton would psy between $2.1 and $3.2 million more. Between 1999 and Uis year, Halton handed over more Usan $260 million for pooling. The oUser two mumicipalitîes Usat make significant contributions to pooling arc York and Peel regions. Peel paid $62 million Usis year alone. Pooling was created by Use Uen-Tory ase. POOLING on page 7 Comment ......... 6 Datoline ......... 9 Champion Country. .13-16 Classified...... 23-26 cuu Dw é.R&Çnhr e SpailChek* a CosMiWumhau* *S8lected ameas 0*l www.mlltontoyota.com EW4151UWUy 1 Ikm forth of 401 ~iue~www.crawlords.ca L ýKfilcjiiiàjlk -L-mi