Tara Sales

New rates will collect more for growth costs of new facilities and road infrastructure

Oakville, August 11, 2009 - For Immediate Release
Oakville Town Council took steps to collect more of the costs of future growth in Oakville by adopting a new development charge by-law. The by-law, which comes into effect on August 31, 2009, sets new development charges that will generate $625.9 million in revenue to fund new facilities to 2018 and new road infrastructure to 2031.

"This by-law is an important part of our promise to residents that we will keep Oakville fiscally sustainable," said Mayor Rob Burton. "Increasing development charges is essential to minimize the impacts of growth on our current taxpayers."

The new charges reflect the growth-related capital expenditures anticipated by the ten-year capital forecast, which was approved by council on June 1, 2009. The new infrastructure needed to support development includes roads, libraries, fire stations, community centres, parks and public transit.

The development charge levied varies depending on the type of development planned. The by-law will increase residential development charges for a new single family residential unit by 63 per cent, and non-residential charges by 34 per cent. A new single family residential unit in north Oakville will now garner a charge of $21,682 compared to the current charge of $13,327. An area-specific charge of $336 per single family residential unit for storm water management will apply in south Oakville, for a total charge of $22,018 compared to the current charge of $14,102.

"Our aim is to ensure that capital projects driven by new development are funded by that development," said Patti Elliott-Spencer, Director of Finance and Treasurer for the Town of Oakville. "The increase is largely due to the increase in the town's service levels and the cost of infrastructure. The town also utilized a new methodology, which is being used by municipalities across the GTA, to maximize revenues to help pay for growth."

The existing Development Charge By-Law 2004-136 expires on August 31, 2009. The proposed charges were released on June 15 and a public meeting was held on June 29, 2009. In response to requests from the development community, council extended its consultation process to August 10 to respond to specific questions and concerns.

Of the $822 million in expenditures identified in the ten-year capital forecast, $493.5 million is earmarked for growth-related projects. Development charges are expected to cover $338 million of those expenditures, and are the largest source of revenue in the forecast. The balance of the development charge revenue to be raised from the new by-law will finance road infrastructure from 2018 to 2031.

Long-term projects the town expects to fund with development charges include:

• North Park Quad Arena
• QE Park Community Centre
• A new library branch
• Two new fire stations
• Additional buses
• Kerr Street widening
• Mid-town and QEW crossing
• New north Oakville operations depot
• Wyecroft Road expansion
• New park development

Due to legislative restrictions, development charges can't cover 100 per cent of growth-related costs. Other revenue sources identified in the capital forecast include reserves and reserve funds, gas tax revenues, and local infrastructure funding revenue that will come to the town from the elimination of regional pooling for social services costs.

This is a burning question in everyone's mind I'm sure, it's something that I think we should always keep top of mind. I love my job and really want it to show. I want my clients to enjoy working with me through the ups and downs of our business. Sometimes things don't work out the way we had intended but that's the way the cookie crumbles in any business!

I really enjoy reading what clients have to say about the Realtor they worked with. I think it's a great way to get to know what the Realtor was like to work with and hopefully you learn more about the way they treat their clients. So when I really thought about how I could make my client testimonials even more appealing I got my clients on camera! It's great to be able to read what someone has written but to actually see them say what they felt about their Realtor... well let's just say you can see it in their faces and it's very hard to fake your true feelings.

Personally for me it's gives a sense of satisfaction to know my clients are excited not only to write down some nice words about what I was like to work with but were actually interested in letting me video tape them and put them on my website for the whole cyber world to see.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

www.TaraSalesRealEstate.com/ClientTestimonials.ubr

This is a major bone of contention in Oakville at the moment and I wanted to make sure I shared with you the next date for a rally to oppose this Power Plant coming into Oakville! If this is an issue close to your heart please try to make it and show your support.

Dear Citizen Colleagues: Several Oakville Residents' Associations have announced they will be holding an outdoor Neighbourhood Rally regarding the proposed 850 MW gas-fired power plant to be located in the Clarkson Airshed Study area, which includes South Mississauga and East Oakville. The Ministry of Environment has already declared this a stressed airshed, with higher than average cumulative air pollution from existing industry and local highways. Outdoor Neighbourhood Rally in Oakville

Tues. July 28 @ 7:00 p.m.
CHISHOLM EDUCATIONAL CENTRE
1484 Cornwall Road, Oakville A gym facility is available at the site in the event of rain.

There will be music and signs (please bring your own). Once again, neighbours from South Mississauga and East Oakville will be speaking with one LOUD collective voice. Oakville residents provided support for South Mississauga's Community Rally with Mayor Hazel McCallion on June 24, and now Mississauga citizens can show support for our Oakville neighbours -- we all breathe the same air. Bring your family and friends! The Ontario Power Authority (perthe Ministry of Energy) has indicated it will select one of the four possible sites in Clarkson or Oakville by August 31, 2009. There is great urgency for all citizens to act nowand protest the proposed power plant which will double the toxic emissions in our area. We need to reduce emissions, not add to them! Go to www.miranet.ca for details about the Oakville Rally, a map to get there, and much more. It's all on the 'Chalkboard', including Petition and contact info. Let's all come together and speak up for the health of our community!

Our Environment = Our Health

I wanted to share something exciting with the Active Rain community that I have been working on since the begining of this year.

SmartGirlsOwn.ca is a site and idea I put together to help women learn about the process of Real Estate from start to finsh and beyond. The website will host different stats on women and Real Estate as well as let women know when and where our next event will be located.

The events are set up to offer a variety of experts a platform to speak about things such as real estate law, home inspection, mortgage financing, selecting a realtor & of course there is always a fun element like a fashion show, make up expert or health & fitness consultant. Everyone who comes has a great time and has an opportunity to meet some new friends and get some great FREE advice.

My group is currently 63 members strong and growing daily! I'm very excited to say that helping women learn about real estate is now my niche market and I love it.

Here is the link to www.SmartGirlsOwn.ca

Good news for Oakville and literacy!

The Ontario government has invested an additional $165,266 in funding to two organizations providing literacy training in Oakville. Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning and the Halton Catholic District School Board are both receiving additional funding to expand literacy and essential skills training so more Ontarians can train for high-skill jobs.

"People remain our number one asset in Oakville," said Kevin Flynn, MPP for Oakville. "Investing in literacy skills means providing more opportunities for people to be their best, strengthening our local economy and helping our neighbourhoods grow."

The funding is part of an investment of $25 million in colleges, school boards and community literacy organizations in the Employment Ontario network across the province to help laid-off workers and other adult learnings train for highly skilled jobs.

"Sheridan is delighted to have these additional and much needed resources to assist people in our community," said Dr. Robert Turner, President and CEO of Sheridan. "Weare most fortunate to have Kevin Flynn as our strong and vocal champion for post-secondary education."