Taxes rise in De Salaberry

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This article was published 30/04/2023 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s not much change in mill rates in the RM of De Salaberry, but taxpayers will see an increase in their bill mostly due to an increase in assessment.

Council presented their 2023 Financial Plan at an April 18 meeting, announcing mill rates that remain very similar to last year.

The municipal rural mill rate is staying constant at 4.935 while the LUD of St Malo will see their mill rate remain at 8.0. That mill rate hasn’t changed in the last five years.

The at-large mill rate has gone up from 8.791 to 8.933.

The total budget comes in a $6.96 million, marking a 30 percent increase from last year. But that number also includes fiscal services which includes capital grants, such as the one used for work on the St Malo arena and recreation plan.

The subtotal, excluding fiscal services shows a 16 percent increase to $4.87 million.

Increases in taxes are prompted by the assessment increase.

The total increase in assessment in the RM totals 16.6 percent, driven largely by a 32.3 percent increase in farmland.

Taxes on a residence with a portioned assessment of $118,755 in 2022 and an average 4.9 percent reassessment increase to a portioned assessment of $124,574 for 2023 would see their taxes rise from $1,043 to $1,113. Those in the LUD of St Malo would see their taxes increase from $1,408 to $1,494.

Farmland has seen the biggest assessment increase over time.

In 2014, 160 acres of farmland was assessed at $216,000 resulting in taxes totalling $664.93.

That same land in 2023 is assessed at $800,000, resulting in taxes of $1,857.86.

The RM of De Salaberry is also planning some projects this year including work on Gagnon Road, Scout Road and bridge repairs.

Funds will be spent on drainage in the Otterburne area and Can Mort Drain, and $312,000 is set aside for machinery replacement.

A total of $200,000 is budgeted for the RM’s office building, but CAO Denise Parent said council will still be considering a plan as nothing is finalized yet.

St Malo Fire Department will see funds for firehall and equipment upgrades totalling $115,000, and the landfill will benefit from $237,000 for machinery replacement.

The largest project is the St Malo Arena renovation with $1.25 million budgeted for this year.

Additional funds will be directed to the St Malo Coin Rendezvous Corner (the site of the deer statues), Otterburne green space, the recreation master plan and Otterburne and Dufrost Curling Clubs.

St Malo will also see funds for the Crow Wing Trail, drainage rehabilitation east of Highway 59 and north of Gosselin, a shop functional review and road and sidewalk rehabilitation for Le Rang, Benoit and St Hilaire.

Parent said the RM will also have some larger projects in the future as they look toward expansion of the Otterburne and St Malo lagoons.