Sign up for the paNOW newsletter

Melfort residents preparing for possible tax increase

Dec 11, 2013 | 11:12 AM

A tax hike is likely not on anyone's Christmas list in Melfort, but residents may be getting one regardless next year.

City council has started to work on the 2014 operating budget, and the early projection is for a tax increase of 6.5 per cent.

“We are aware that our revenue-sharing grant will be decreasing, and we are guessing that it's decreasing to the tune of $35,000 to $40,000,” said Mayor Rick Lang.

The decrease comes at a time when Melfort is facing a number of infrastructure projects.

“You know it's something we would rather not do, we like to look at operating funds as operating, but there is such an infrastructure deficit that has developed not only in

Melfort, but in every community across Canada,” said Lang.

Lang reiterated that local residents should not panic, as the proposed tax increase is very preliminary at this point and subject to change. City council has merely met once.

“Usually in the course of the operating budget, we will meet three or four times to finalize the budget itself,” said Lang.

The next meeting has been scheduled for Jan. 13.

Melfort’s city council has finalized next year's capital budget.

Among the big items on the list is a new air handling unit for the Northern Lights Palace Arena roof. It comes at a cost of $85,000.

“Those air handling units have a defined life let's say, and the old one was past that defined life,” said Lang.

The city is also replacing some lawn mowers, and re-grouting the Northern Lights Palace pool, another project that Lang said is long overdue.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell