MELFORT — Melfort council passed their 2022 budget with a 4.16 per cent property tax increase, after using the previous years’ surpluses to lower the tax increase by 5.25 per cent.
The factors that led to it include 1.41 per cent dedicated to city programs, .50 per cent allocated to essential services, 1.25 per cent to infrastructure renewal, and one per cent for the RCMP tax hike for municipalities.
Glenn George, Melfort’s mayor, called this year’s budget “challenging,” but “as fair and equitable as it can possibly be.”
“As a community, we need to start significantly reinvesting in our utilities, roads and landfill to continue meeting our residents’ expectations and regulatory requirements,” George said. “I believe that council has struck a balance between continuing to deliver key services, being fiscally responsible, and investing in vital infrastructure.”
The 2022 budget includes $2.5 million in roads, sidewalks and airport runway lights; $2.7 million in waterline replacements; $50,000 in pathway enhancements; $40,000 dedicated for a dog park; $731,000 in the landfill and composting facility to meet regulatory requirements; and $1.9 million for land development in Southgate.
