The chair of the Hamilton Conservation Authority says new accounting practices at his organization will be good for the city's bottom line.

Chris Firth-Eagland said the full implementation of last year's move to begin taking capital spending out of the authority's annual levy request to the city should help hold the line on municipal taxes.

The authority traditionally included spending on one-time capital upgrades in its operating budget, which raised the levy "for all time" even though the projects were completed, he said.

But last year, it separated capital spending from operating budgets for Confederation Park and Westfield Heritage Village, which it manages for the city.

The change allowed a net reduction of one per cent on last year's levy request, savings ultimately passed on to municipal taxpayers.

Mr. Firth-Eagland said results are expected to be at least as good this year because the authority is now also separating capital spending from its general operating budget.

Because they are financed differently, capital budgets have less direct impact on yearly tax increases.

"This year we will be again be able to come in at zero or less than zero per cent on our operating budget by continuing in this vein," Mr. Firth-Eagland said.

"We're being in a sense fiscal leaders and I hope the city recognizes that," agreed director Jim Howlett."

The comments came as directors passed three capital budgets that will be submitted to the city for approval.

These include $1.35 million for capital works at authority-owned parks and facilities, $892,000 for Confederation Park and Wild Waterworks, and $303,000 for Westfield Heritage Village.

Tony Horvat, the authority's director of land management, said afterwards the biggest priority in the general capital budget is more than $500,00 in ongoing upkeep.

"All that is for maintenance of existing facilities -- management of trees, roadways, signage, trail maintenance, replacement of eavestroughs and a leaky wall at the central storage room," he said.

Other items include design work on the replacement of the aging chlorination system at Valens Conservation Area and permanent washrooms at Webster's Falls.

The latter would replace portable washrooms, but is of lower priority, he said.

"We think it's important to get going on that. We're getting more and more visitors to that area," Mr. Horvat said. "It's not only a convenience for them but it saves us pumping costs."