(Antigonish, Nova Scotia) On Tuesday, May 30, 2023, Municipal Council approved its $19,200,000 2023/24 Municipal Operating Budget and $8,500,000 Capital Budget.
Municipal Council approved the budget with no increases to the residential tax rate, commercial tax rate or sewer rates. Warden Owen McCarron stated “County Council is proud of this year’s budget. It invests in the renewal and expansion of infrastructure. It supports tourism through the establishment of a tourism strategy and funding for local events. It provides for efficiency and renewable energy upgrades for community centres and supports community organizations from one end of the County to the other. We’ve also managed to continue to pay down debt and have tried to contain costs where we can. This year we also have a significant amount of capital work planned, including the Active Transportation Corridor, which will transform our community.”
Some of the major expenses included in this year’s budget include mandatory contributions to education which accounts for 22.1% of the budget and protective services which accounts for 21.3% of the budget. Like all municipalities, Antigonish County has and is experiencing upward pressure on its expenses as prices climb. Assessment growth and mitigating measures have allowed the County to continue to invest in the community while maintaining the residential, resource tax rates.
Highlights of the budget include:
- The residential rate will remain at $0.88 per $100 of assessment. This is among the lowest rates in Nova Scotia and the fourteenth consecutive year that it has not increased.
- The commercial rate will remain at $1.44 per $100 of assessment. The Municipality remains the lowest commercial tax jurisdiction in the Province of Nova Scotia.
- Residential municipal sewer rates will remain at $316.29/unit.
- Interest rate is 6% per annum.
Key Initiative include:
- Low Income Property Tax Exemption has been increased so that households earning less than $36,000 can receive up to $300 toward their property taxes.
- Approximately $570,000 in grants and contributions to support community groups and projects.
- Expansion of the Antigonish County Water Utility in St. Josephs and Lanark.
- Construction of phase #1 of the Active Transportation Corridor.
- Efficiency upgrades and Solar PV installations at nine community centres.
- Construction of sidewalks, curb & gutter on Vincent’s Way, South River Road and Beech Hill Road.
- Improvements to the Beech Hill Transfer Station.
- Improvements to the County Court House.
- Continued support of the People’s Place Library, Antigonish Arena, Antigonish Heritage Museum, Antigonish Affordable Housing, Lifeguard services at Bayfield Beach, St. Martha’s Hospital Foundation, Strait Area Search & Rescue and Beaver Mountain Park among other community facilities and service.
Tax-bills will be in the mail this week and are due on June 30, 2023.