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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, December 16, 2016 | 1 4 Region points finger at provincial funding shortfalls and growth costs continued from p.1 Mark Scinocca told councillors the budget was created with council's direction in mind to keep tax rates at or below inflation. "The 2017 budget continues to maintain ser vice levels in the region' s core service areas and ensures delivery of the priorities identified by Regional council," he said. Regional taxes pay for regional roads and planning, paramedic services, public health and social assistance, children's and seniors' services, affordable and assistive housing, heritage pro grams and economic development. "Ensuring top value for taxpayer dollars is an integral part of Regional council' s commitment to being a transparent, accountable and fiscally responsible government," said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr in a media release. "The 2017 budget protects the Region's long term financial position and financial sustainabil ity while also making strategic investments that support a high quality of life in Halton." Councillors have been critical of provincial funding shortfalls. "To responsibly and effectively support provincially-mandated growth, provincial funding investments are required," stated a memo dis tributed to the Regional council meeting. The Health Department is expecting a $9.8 million shortfall as health program funding, in cluding paramedic services and the North Halton Mental Health Clinic, continue to be signifi cantly below expected levels of cost-shared and 100-per-cent, provincially-funded programs. It represents a four per cent impact on region al property taxes, the memo states. The Development Charge Act (DCA) also limits how much municipalities collect to cover growth-related infrastructure and services costs. "DCA limitations have resulted in an estimat ed funding gap of $14.1 million per year and a tax impact of six per cent on the regional portion of property taxes," Scinocca's memo said. The total cost of growth-related infrastructure is estimated at $23.8 million, or 10 per cent of the Regional portion of the property taxes. "These costs are expected to increase each year as the Region continues to face the chal lenges of mandated growth without the provin cial investments to support it," he states. The Region is investing in six priority areas: · $1.5 million (net $782,000 after subsidy) for the new East Milton paramedic station with staff 24/7, as well as logistic support; · $2 million for the Halton Region Commu nity Investment Fund, up from $1.4 million to respond to increasing demand, solidify funding for Halton' s food security program and address emerging needs from community safety and well-being planning; · $1 million for Waterfront Master Plans; · $1.3 million to provide housing subsidies for survivors of domestic violence and help pre vent homelessness (funded by subsidy); · $1 million to provide sustainable funding for the 10-year road resurfacing program; · $3.4 million in social housing improve ments; · $689,000 for The Oakville Senior Citizens' Residence to operationalize new governance; · $409,000 to increase road maintenance contracts with local municipalities and regional contracts to address growth in road network; · $200,000 to expand the internship and ap prenticeship program from 12 to 16 interns/ apprentices and $60,000 to open the landfill on Sundays; · $85,000 to increase nursing hours for Halton' s growing child and youth immunization needs. For more on the budget, visit www.halton.ca/ budget. Artisan Blends Proudly Micro Brewed in Burlington 4055 Harvester Rd., Unit 6 What is Kombucha? K o m b u ch a is fe rm e n te d tea, th o u g h t to have o rig in a te d in A sia th o u sa n d s o f years ago. Open 1-6 Wed., Thurs., Fri. (year round) Open 10-4 Saturdays (until Dec.31) Open other days/times by appointm ent CHRISTMAS SPECIALS (Baker's D ozens and Free G ift Box w ith purchases over $30) (905)407-7212 · w w w .cathyskom bucha.com 9 0 5 .3 3 8 .9 9 1 9 9 2 8 W inston Churchill Blvd., Oakville, O N L 6 J 7X5 w w w .je n s e n tir e . c a Great winter traction and life on k snow and ice. ^ M i c h e l i n ® X - lc e ® X i 3TM T a k in g ca re o f O a k v ille an d M ississa u g a w in te r tire n e e d s fo r 3 0 + y e a rs C o n v e n ie n tly lo ca te d ju s t so u th o f R o yal W in d so r on W in sto n C h u rch ill