Despite a cutback from the provincial government, civic taxes in Tisdale are only going up one per cent this year.
The town will raise $3.57 million through taxes in 2017, compared to $3.55 million in 2016. Meanwhile, it will only receive $1.17 million through grants this year, compared to $1.32 million last year.
For a home that was assessed at $100,000 in 2016, taxes will increase by $11.51. Property values have been reassessed for 2017.
For a home assessed at $150,000 in 2017, municipal taxes will be $2,316.95 and education taxes – set by the province – will be $752.40, resulting in a $205.21 increase. For a business valued at $100,000 in 2017, municipal taxes will be $4,027.98 and education taxes will be $627.00, resulting in an $8.21 decrease. Those figures are before any discounts.
“We were able to keep the tax increase to one per cent,” said Al Jellicoe, Tisdale’s mayor. “I think it ended up working out pretty good.”
Nipawin is looking at a tax increase of around two to three per cent, while Melfort’s looking at a tax increase of five to six per cent.
The budget features $545,000 in paving, $85,000 in sand sealing and $285,000 in water line replacements.
“I’m happy with doing a big paving project, doing some water line replacement,” Jellicoe said.
The town is paying back $1.3 million in debt with no new borrowing, doing some improvements to the RECplex, drilling a new water well and adding a new cell at the landfill, and is spending $830,000 on a new town shop.
“It’s been needed for the last 15 years and we’re finally getting it built,” Jellicoe said. “Being able to build a new shop, keep the taxes at one per cent, I think is reflective of the past 10 years of [sound fiscal management].”
Jellicoe said the town had to delay buying some new equipment this year and some paving, but he added the town was still on track to complete its 20-year repaving plan on schedule.
