COUNCIL APPROVES 2025/26 MUNICIPAL BUDGET
(Antigonish, Nova Scotia) – On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, Council for the Municipality of the County of Antigonish approved its 2025–26 Municipal Operating Budget, totalling $20,828,099. Municipal Council approved the budget with no changes to the residential and commercial tax rate or sewer rates.
“With half of Council serving their first term, I’m proud of the collaborative work that went into delivering our first municipal budget,” said Warden Nicholas MacInnis. “This budget supports key community priorities—like investments in water and sewer, funding for an accessible washroom at the new Antigonish Scotiabank Mini Pitch, and increased support for tourism to boost local business. At the same time, we’re continuing to reduce debt and maintaining stable tax rates.”
Some of the major expenses in this year’s budget include mandatory contributions to education which accounts for 24% of the budget and protective services which accounts for 20.9%. Like all municipalities, Antigonish County has and is experiencing upward pressure on its expenses as prices continue to climb. Assessment growth and mitigating measures have allowed the County to continue to invest in the community while maintaining service levels and lower rates.
Highlights of the budget include:
- The residential rate will remain at $0.85 per $100 of assessment. This is among the lowest rates in Nova Scotia.
- The commercial rate will remain at $1.43 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 Initiatives include:
- Low Income Property Tax Exemption has been increased so that combined household earning less than $40,000 can receive up to $300 toward their property taxes.
- Approximately $450,000 in grants and contributions will go to support various community groups and projects.
- An increase in the Tourism Budget to $70,000 to support the Antigonish Tourism strategy.
- In addition to the annual $50,000 commitment to the Antigonish Arena, $30,000 will be contributed to establish a capital reserve.
- Council has committed $50,000 towards establishing a Fire & Rescue Training Facility to support the nine regional fire departments in our communities.
- 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.
The following infrastructure projects have also been approved:
- Phase 3A of the Active Transportation Corridor, which includes a roundabout at Church Street and Trunk 4.
- Council approved a $150,000 investment for the construction of an accessible washroom at the Scotiabank Mini-Pitch.
- The sewer treatment plant will receive $675,000 this year towards the Town’s sewer treatment plant in addition to our annual operating contributions.
- Improvements to the municipal building including office painting and windows and accessible upgrades to the entrance doors and washrooms.
- Improvements to the Court House continued.
- Solar PV installations and energy efficiency upgrades at nine community centres through the Net-Zero Community Buildings project to continue.
