Having had a million dollars dropped in their lap, one might think Orangeville councillors would be beaming all around and gathered in a group hug.

But such was not the case at council's budget meeting Monday night, as there was a difference of opinion on how to allocate the funds that came as a result of a special Orangeville Hydro dividend.

Council had been anticipating a special dividend of $250,000 annually for the next four years. But in late December, the Hydro board opted to pay a $1-million lump sum.

Treasurer Wayne Church was able to scratch an expense of $259,000 from the budget that was to go to a contingency fund for a potential deficit for 2007, the year having ended with no deficit.

Mayor Rob Adams and Deputy Mayor Warren Maycock argued that $166,000 of this windfall should go toward the operating budget so as to lower the town-only tax rate increase to three per cent or less.

Mr. Maycock's motion was defeated, though. Councillors Sylvia Bradley and Scott Wilson, whose relationship to date has been somewhat adversarial in regards to preparing the 2008 budget, said the money should be put into reserves and led the vote against the motion.

As a result, council adjourned with the town-only tax rate increase remaining at 4.89 per cent.

"It's nice to have lower taxes," explained Ms. Bradley, "but we need sustainability. Using found money (the hydro dividend) is not sustainable. We don't know what's coming down the pike. We need to have this money, just in case."

Mr. Maycock countered that, by having his motion defeated, Orangeville ratepayers will lose confidence that council is doing all it can to relieve their tax burden.

"I think taxpayers are looking for a break this year, and here's our chance to give it to them."

He also vowed to re-introduce the motion at next Monday's budget meeting, whether or not that was in accordance with the rules.

The decision was a bitter pill for Mayor Adams, who feels council should work to make town increases on a par with, or at least close to, those at the county level.

"I find it difficult to say we've got to get it down to 2.6 per cent at county, then come here and say increases can be higher.

"I'm just trying to be consistent."

Another noteworthy budget revision was that renovations to the Tony Rose Memorial Sports complex, especially the pool, have been upgraded to priority one on the list of public works.

These include $240,000 for a Dry-A-Tron dehumidifier for the pool area.

Several supporters of the pool were in attendance Monday and presented council with a petition, signed by close to 1,000 people, to save the pool. They came away happy, yet cautious.

"I'm absolutely delighted," said Dale Milburn, "I think we've won. If we didn't get the Dry-A-Tron, the pool would have disintegrated."

Fellow pool user William Bieman was optimistic, but also wary, since council has not yet voted in favour of the repairs.

"I'll be back next week to make sure it will happen."

Councillor Gail Campbell, an advocate for keeping the Tony Rose pool open, didn't try to conceal her annoyance with council's apparent reluctance to take a firm stand on the facility.

"These people have to come here every damned year to see if the pool is going to stay open," she spoke out, pounding her fist on the table for emphasis. "This year, council has to make decision. Yes or no!"

If the Tony Rose upgrades are penciled into the budget, they will be scratched from the list of potential projects that could receive full funding from the provincial government under its $300 million Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative (MIII).

Orangeville has been informed that it is eligible to apply for funding through the one-time program that is administered by Infrastructure Ontario.

The program is intended to help eligible municipalities provide safe and reliable infrastructure.

The town has three potential projects under consideration other than Tony Rose. They are road reconstruction and water main replacements on Broadway West, Centennial Road/C Line traffic signals and turning lanes, and total reconstruction of William Street.