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Members of the local Chinese community gathered to ring in the Year of the Rooster Satur- day at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex as part of Chinese New Year celebrations, Bringing a dose of good luck to the festivities was the traditional Lion dance (above). put on try members of the Central Ontario Chinese Cultural Organization. Waterloo regional councillor unhappy With tihttl Mtllgttt alcrluo regional quncil approved a prupvriv tax incrozm- of3fm [in cent last week, trying in keep " in line with the inflation rate. The l,82 per cent increase for regional ser- vices and the 2.05 per com inrroasc for police services. which will add 14 more police officers to thv streets. will increase thc average househnld"s tax bill by 346,46. "Through our budget prurvss. we have came up with a budget that mtwtr, its "biectivvs by arrommodat, ing rtrm-rtrntrrotlahlv rnsl min-uses. maintaining and onhanring our wrvirvs In 1hr tnmmunny, and “my mg ther tax im rmm' lo l‘ill Ions reasonable," said Mike. Murray in his first lmdgm as [hr rcgion's 1 llil'f admmis, By Boa Vim/um ' 'h rorrrrltm Skiff Celebrating the Year of the Rooster "alive officer. "Overall this regional budget represents excellent value to the Com- munity." Hui Waterloo regional Coun. Mike Connolly isn't so sure. He voted against both budget increases. and is concerned that while taxes have gone up almost eight per com in the last year. regional spending has in fact jmnpvd by douhle digits and is nm sustainahlc in the long term. "ll sounds wry good In the publir where thc region ramps up with a 1.82 per rem im'rmsv for the region and a 2m; pvr can! increase for the pohiv," said Connor ly, "hul wlml the public doesn't rvuIi/v IN thai the busts Innigl'l. which is the .Immmt wr- spt-nl lust yum .uldI-(l fC2 pm [om mow with no im'n’uw Ill w,ervirvs, "Ur if you add tht. ‘12 pm (rm In this Hm pm 1 I'm. look In the mum Kn drop m and lcst thixc 1,our colour (, Yen's 1 I 'oi n t. " l krt N .k n In In: Ind» .Il Hccr's Ik'uvmlmg' bi, 'N( Kux: Nt N ‘\\.m IL.“ '_'.',',',','.'.'.'.'.'.',',,'.)'.'.";'.] ','"i:,',Vsr:C."Cr'ms ' cc, _',' vgrt,t,ig , 4""- SH Haul“! I/rhh'rs1,'Yt'tiir' St Hm (Our 1hi/yki/h/ ' trsfiie"Z; K: - l T “PM Ci] Ayhr, 5r'ilrdqltyiri)tiiris', snap; iiru'r'Tiriri)i/ CITY NEWS you gm 13 per cent more approximately than we were spending last year, and that's just not sustainable" Connolly docsn't knnw hnw the region is gning m rupt- with that fart unless, thvre is a change of culture at rrgiunul hvudquarlt-rs. IIv uum‘ up with his own list of suggvstious In trim the n-gituml budget. nmu- of which won- urrvpu-d. Mike Connolly Regional councillor use URBAMM when: Region of Waterloo hires 14 more police officers n additional H offi, All” will join the anks of the Waterloo Regional Puliu’ this year. An $84-million operating budget approved this week includes the implementa- tion of stage two of a four- year staffing plan that will see an additional 70 police officers hired lw 2006. The 2005416 budget also includes the hiring of an additional four civilians. Tum Galloway, chair of the police services hoard, said the budget r'epreierus about a It) pm cent increase in spending over last year, and translates into a two per cent increase on the regional lax hill. The region's .poliring costs are less than other Ontario communities of similarsize. For instance: there was a request that maintenance staffing at the Waterloo Regional Airport he increased by 50 per cent. (wen though the airport lost one of its international car- riers this past year. "Our policing cost por capita is still relatively low in the province." Galloway said. Connolly said there should he no new staff hired at this timc for a savings of S60,000. If a new air svrvirv is added, Connolly said court- ril could then match the staffing to meet the increased demand, instead of the other way around. "When we get the other people coming in, then increase stair," said Connor ly. "This is just the sun ul thing that doesn't make anv st'nso In mt!" Ile said that shin in (HIV lurv should go all thy “an; to the (IAUK ofruv, which has "xpandediis staff from thrtw In 12 in thc pus! ctruph' of wars. BY mum-Mn NUthf For fhe t Arorrtrte The additional police officers and civilians will cost 3175.000 this year because they will be hired in the last three ur four months of the year. "Next year. those same 18 people will be much closer In $1 million." Gal- loway said. A report 10 the [ward said "the significant cost drivers" in this budget are increases in salaries and benefits, the annualized cost of staff hired last year. debt Charges, inflation and other adjustments. "I know that he (Murray) has taken on emergency planning. but to my mind the CAO should be looking after the region as a depart- mom. He shouldn't have a department of his own," said Connolly. "That's what it's becoming, and I don't artcpt this expansion? Last Wednesday. police board members trimmed S352.000 in expenses from the budget. l'hr inrnwm- in n'giunal staffing this year is skin-d 10 be bviwecn 28 and w, mm; prnpla and (Inllnnlly said that's [ml itt l l'pIahlv who" smiling lush make up the higgrsl pnniun of this year's "Our policing cost per capita is still relatively low in the province. " "This is just the sort of thing that doesn't make any sense to me. " - Tom Galloway puhn' 50" q' Ces hoard Mike Connolly Regional rmmdllnr l'u him-m Is, HEEBTS' kin f (fail mung-u tr .‘I' Km In-n. Galloway said the may tional police officers will give regional taxpayers what they're asking for more traffic enitsrcemet1t, He said ll] the last two years there has been a 33 per cent inch-ass in Him lions issued by regional police officers, In addition It) increased police patrols (In regional roads. the crackdown on bad drivers also includes education and “wan-nus campaigns. "lt should he noted that the police service and the region over the parit In years have engaged in numerous base budget reviews in order to achieve reasonable tax increases." said a report to police hoard members. "The ability In quickly rationalize service provision or make other financial adjustments is no longer readily available. therefore. any reductions in the base increase will only he achieved through service reductions. " "That's not even includ- ing police affirms." said Connolly. "We might need one or lwu extra staff. but I don't see the justiWation for that many. regional budget. "And when you look at staffing the last few years. WE keep increasing by alarming numbers each year." I He places the blame squarely at thc feet of Court- cil. "That's vtouncil's fault. not the stairs" said Connor ly. "W0 should he looking at the haw hmlgvt, sm- what we spent last year, and thcn figure nut how In provide ttw sumo \l-rriu's with a slightly increased tax raw iusl abou- inflation, "Pull that's thy th'morrat If way [If dvaling with things; and until Wt' gm tlw rum (m the mundl. ihvv'rc lust as onlilll'tl In thcir "pi" inn as mine" .Hl)