Rothesay is seeking community feedback on its proposed 2024 operating budget.
The town plans to hold its property tax rate at $1.19 per $100 of assessed value
While Rothesay’s assessment base has grown 10.8 per cent, the municipality is also dealing with increasing costs.
“Like everyone else, the costs for running a municipality are going up. The costs for fuel, the costs for materials, the costs for consultants, the costs for labour,” town manager John Jarvie said during a budget presentation on Wednesday.
“At the same time, council has a fairly ambitious program to expand facilities and improve the amenity value in the community.”
The town’s proposed operating budget is just over $23.8 million, an increase of more than nine per cent.
Staff said besides the increase in property assessments, there are no significant changes to other revenue sources.
The town’s carryforward surplus has dropped by $145,000 year over year to just under $129,000 for 2024.
Rothesay will also see its core equalization funding from the province drop by just over $26,000.
The town is also seeing annual increases in its snowplowing ($360,000) and waste disposal ($100,000) contracts.
Insurance premiums are also expected to climb 10 to 15 per cent, or about $25,000.
Additional money is also being moved into a fund to help cover increased costs for capital projects.
Meanwhile, the town is considering water and sewer fee increases as part of its nearly $3.9-million utility operating budget.
The base water usage rate would increase to $1.29 per cubic metre from $1.24 while the fixed user charge would increase to $225 from $215 annually. The base sewer rate would climb to $475 from $435 annually.
Staff said the typical single-family would pay an extra $65 per year with the increases.
Deputy Mayor Matt Alexander, who sits on the town’s finance committee, said he feels this is a good budget.
“It reflects the needs of our town moving forward and I feel that it’s a budget that we can live with,” said Alexander.
Written public comments can be submitted to the town before 8 a.m. Friday. The final budget council approval is scheduled for Nov. 14.
You can find more details about Rothesay’s draft operating and utility budgets on the town’s website.
