No municipal tax increase for Colchester County ratepayers

TRURO, NS. — Colchester County taxpayers have been spared a rate increase for the current fiscal year.

After weathering the financial challenges of 2020, county council on Thursday evening (April 29) approved a $32.9 million budget for the 2021/22 fiscal year with no increases to either the residential or commercial tax rates.

This was the third year out of the last four that the municipality was able to hold the line on its rates, with just a half cent increase in 2019, the county said, in a news release.

“We know this past year has been challenging financially for many of our residents and businesses,” said Mayor Christine Blair. “Although our municipality continues to face rising costs that are beyond our control, such as education, policing, libraries, and corrections, council was determined to do its best to avoid an increase in our tax rates.

“We are pleased to say that we were successful in achieving that.”

Blair said the municipality prides itself on delivering a high level of service to residents while continuing to maintain one of the lowest municipal tax rates in the province, thanks to long-term forecasting, investment in contingency reserve funds, and calculated spending.

Despite holding the line on tax increases, the mayor said, the municipality will continue to invest in critical infrastructure and economic development initiatives that will aid in post-pandemic recovery in the county, including rural broadband internet, Debert Business

Park and Airport, Fundy Discovery Site, and the Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark.

The municipality is also leading environmental change by investing in Carbon-free Colchester initiatives as well as supporting numerous community organizations through the county’s not-for-profit grant programs.

“We have a variety of hardworking community groups that provide important services across our municipality,” Blair said. “Many have struggled this past year with an inability to fundraise due to public health restrictions. Council is pleased to be able to support these organizations, especially during such challenging times.

Approximately 46 per cent of the taxes collected by the municipality are transferred to the provincial government for such services as schools, housing, libraries, assessment services, corrections and policing.

The county was also obligated this year provide another three per cent increase, totaling $438,539 ,in its required mandatory payments to the province, for a total transfer of $14.9 million.