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3 | Friday, D ecem ber 9, 2 0 1 6 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Town hike softened to 1.99 per cent on overall tax bill continued from p.1 The Town' s Budget Committee, headed by Ward 6 Councillor Tom Adams, met Tuesday (Dec. 6) to look at a 3.21-per-cent increase to the Town' s portion of the tax bill. The latest Toronto Consumer Price Index shows an annual increase of 2.3 per cent. Once the increase on the Town' s portion of the tax bill is combined with a proposed 1.9-per-cent increase in Halton Region taxes and no increase in education rates, the overall tax bill will rise by 1.99 per cent. "The recommended budget reflects coun cil' s commitment to keep overall property tax increases in line with inflation," stated Ad ams, in a media release. "Council is doing this at the same time it is investing in building and renewing com munity infrastructure. We also continue to deliver high quality programs and services, while making strategic improvements desired by the community." A $ 3 10-million operating budget would provide various programs and services, in cluding maintenance of roads and commu nity facilities, fire services, transit, parks and trails, recreation and culture, senior services and libraries, among others. Program upgrades recommended for 2017 include improvements to bylaw enforcement, implementation of changes to the private tree bylaw to strengthen tree protection, an ad ditional $50,000 funding for Visit Oakville, $90,000 to support the Heritage Grant pro gram and an added $52,500 to aid cultural programs and grants. The Budget Committee deferred to the 2018 budget a request for funds to introduce flashing 40 km/h traffic-zone warning signals. This would allow for review of potential new rules that could grant the limited use of photo radar in school zones before commit ting the funds. The committee also proposed re-allocating funds for council' s town-wide newsletter to ward-specific communications. Transit fares are expected to increase, if the budget is approved. Cash fares will go up by 25 cents to $3.75. An adult m onthly pass will increase by $5 to $120, the student m onthly pass will rise to $75, up from $70, a senior pass will cost $55 a month, a $5 increase, while a group of 10 se nior bus tickets will go up 50 cents to $18.50. Presto fares would also see a hike, with adult prices set to rise by 10 cents to $2.95, while students will pay $2.25, up five cents. Last month, the budget panel reviewed the Town' s draft 2017 capital budget, which includes $122.3 million in funding in 2017 and more than $1 billion for capital projects for 2017-26, with a focus on transportation, infrastructure renewal and other areas said to be growth-related. The Budget Committee proposed moving forward with an additional $500,000 in road resurfacing projects in 2017. gram -- $9.1 million; · Legacy Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hos pital (OTMH) demolition -- $7.6 million; · Phase 2 of LED streetlight conversion -- $6.6 million; · Kerr Street widening and grade separa tion -- $4.7 million; · Expansion buses -- $4.3 million; · Speers Road widening from GO station west of Third Line to Fourth Line -- $4 mil lion; · Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Management Program -- $3.7 million. Adams noted staff was asked to prepare budgets for 2018, 2019 and 2020 to meet council' s direction to keep overall property tax increases in line with inflation. Those w ho wish to register as a delegate at Monday' s meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, can register in person then or in advance by emailing townclerk@oakville.ca or calling 905-815-6015. Residents unable to attend can stream it live on the Town' s YouTube channel at w w w youtube.com/user/townofoakvilletv. --with files from David Lea Key capital projects for 2017 Some key capital projects for next year in clude: · Trafalgar Park revitalization -- $13 mil lion; · Lakeshore Road bridge at Sixteen Mile Creek reconstruction -- $10.5 million; · Road Resurfacing and Preservation Pro inside todays B eaver www.insideHALTON.com 6 22 S ports C lassified 23 27 H ollan dP ark G arden R eal E state H altonW om en 's P lace H u bm ar C lean in g Editorial A rtscene *A ll flyers not necessarily delivered to all homes GIO RG IO ARMANI BRUNELLO CUCINELLI · H UG O BOSS BELSTAFF ETRO BOGLIOLI For home delivery & customer service call 9 0 5 -6 3 1 -6 0 9 5 , 5 30 0 Harvester Rd., Burlington NEW suBscRIFTiO Ns call 9 0 5 -6 3 1 -6 0 9 5 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com DonP rComproMiig DriVeKj ' ra in in : D R IV E W IS G ood d riv e rs a r e n 't b o rn , t h e y 'r e built U P C O M I N G C O U R S E S ---------------------------- D ecem ber 27, 28 , 29, 30 4 Days 9:30 am - 3:30 pm January 2, 3, 4f5 4 Days 9:30 am - 3:30 pm w w w .d riv e w is e o a k v ille .c o m 9 0 5 - 8 4 5 - 7 2 0 0