The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Region absorbs more childâ€"child costs ocal politicians are leaning towards a oneâ€" I year reprieve in the way the Region of aterloo funds local dayâ€"care spaces. And they‘re doing so with the hope that the provincial and federal governments will get back in the game. Waterloo regional councillors Sean Strickland and Jane Mitchell said they both support local child care, with the region spending around $32 million a year to support more than 2,600 local dayâ€"care spaces. While the region is spending more on child care than a lot of other municipalities, there is a question of sustainability after the federal govâ€" ernment pulied out of its childâ€"care agreement last year. Strickland said the federal government left the region holding the bag to the tune of $3 million a year. With proposed changes to the province‘s bestâ€"start program, those costs could be even more. "We‘re not sure what that‘s going to do to our subsidized spots. We think that might mean more people are eligible for a lesser amount of money, so that‘s going to impact the shape of the proâ€" "Previously we used to determine eligibility for subsidized day care on a needs test," said Strickland. "Now it‘s gone to a provincewide income test. Longtime Waterloo Catholic District School Board trustee Louise Ervin has been named the 2007 recipient of the Canadian Catholic School Trustees‘ Association‘s Justice James Higgins Award. The Higgins award is awarded annually to a person or group that has displayed exceptional leadership, comâ€" mitment and vision to the cause of Catholic education in Canada. Trustee wins award Welcome home By Bos VRBANAC Chronicle Staff _ The hope is that both the federal and provinâ€" cial governments find more money in their budgâ€" ets for child care with elections looming. "The question is how much we‘re willing to spend to pick up that gap," said Strickland, the chair of the region‘s community services commitâ€" tee. "I think there‘s some support to continue the level of service we‘re offering." "We‘re looking to cobble together a few things so it won‘t come so much from the tax levy," said Mitchell. "I support option two, and I think other people do too, because of the provincial changes. gram as well." That‘s why Strickland and Mitchell are both supporting option two of three proposals put forâ€" ward by regional staff at a recent budget commitâ€" tee meeting. Mitchell said she is looking to soften the blow for local taxpayers who would still have to come up with an extra $513,000 to make up the differâ€" ence. _ "We don‘t know if that‘s going to mean we‘re going to have more children need subsidies or not â€" we just don‘t know." That‘s why a oneâ€"year review appeals to both counciliors. Things seem to be changing all the time in the way the upper tiers of government are funding child care. "We‘ll just keep everything going for a year," said Mitchel®"Who knows what will happen with the elections." Public meetings are scheduled to gather public input on the Year 2007 Regional Budget. Several critical public policy issues are being addressed during this budget process. The final meeting will be held on: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 6:00 p.m. Regional Council Chamber 150 Frederick Street, Z2nd Floor, Kitchener If you are interested in ambulance service levels, long term care, regional roads, transit, public health programs, housing, child care, protection from infectious diseases, heritage and culture, the environment, water/waste water and landfill user rates, various fees charged for services, among other issues, you may wish to attend. Final budget approval for user rates (water and wastewater) is scheduled for Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. and final budget approval for all other Regional services is scheduled for Wednesday, March 21, 2007 at 7:00 PUBLIC MEETINGS ON 2007 REGIONAL BUDGET PUBLIC NOTICE Region of Waterloo WATERLOO CHRONICLE * Wednesday, February 21, 2007 * 5