The first budget committee meeting of the season was held Monday evening, where Town Manager of Finance and Accounting Sheryl Hill gave councillors an overview of the 2009 capital budget forecast.

She said the forecast includes $31.8 million in gross expenditures for next year, with $17.5 million of that coming from development charges, $9.3 million from Town revenues and donations, $4.5 million from issuing debt and $410,591 from the capital provision.

She also outlined where the money will be going. This includes, among other things, $6.8 million for the Main Street road underpass, $2.1 million for Lower Base Line construction, $2.4 million for parks development projects and $2 million for new fire stations.

The committee heard from two local residents at the meeting, like Miltonian Marshall Horner, who spoke to the importance of adequately funding the fire department in the 2009 budget.

Fellow Milton citizen Mike Grimwood also made several suggestions, including one to update the differential between the urban and rural tax levies.

"The budgets for 2006, 2007 and 2008 clearly show that the rural areas are receiving proportionally fewer benefits for their tax dollars," he noted.

A budget call report, which typically outlines what the anticipated tax increase will be for next year and sets directions for staff in preparing the budget, is expected to go before council for consideration in June.

Local residents wishing to provide input on the 2009 budget can do so until next Friday by e-mailing sheryl.hill@milton.ca.

Melanie Hennessey can be reached at mhennessey@miltoncanadianchampion.com.