Council unanimously approves its 2007 budget
By ALAN LICZYK

The 2007 Town of Caledon budget was unanimously approved by Caledon council last Tuesday night which results in a 2.8 per cent tax increase on the Town's portion of the tax bill.

This means the average home assessed at $361,000 will pay $28.75 more in property taxes. Every $100,000 of market value assessment equals $7.96.

Treasurer Sam Jones said when Peel region and education are added, the overall tax increase will be 2.1 per cent.

The $71-million Town budget allocates $39.9 million to the current operational expenditures and $31 million to capital projects.

The largest capital expenditures include $14.9 million for the Bolton arterial roads project that widens Coleraine Drive to four lanes, $4.5 million for a new Caledon OPP office and $2.6 million for road reconstruction in Inglewood.

"Staff has done extremely well on this budget," said Councillor Richard Whitehead.

He added it includes significant infrastructure improvements.

Councillor Doug Beffort said he was assuming there was positive support for the budget from the public since only four residents showed up for the meeting. The word on the street he heard was to be prudent.

"I feel we have acted prudently," he said.

"You guys have done a great job," Councillor Annette Groves said to staff.

She noted some tough decisions had to be made and some things had to be left out of the budget.

"We have to weigh things," she said. "We have to compromise."

Mayor Marolyn Morrison commented there were some really tough decisions made by staff even before the budget came to council. She added senior management have brought forward a realistic budget.

"We appreciate it very much," she said.