By Clark Stork

Nipawin council eyeing four percent tax increase

Jan 29, 2018 | 9:53 AM

Nipawin town council will discuss a proposed four per cent tax increase once administration finishes its report February.

Council discussed the 2018 budget during a special meeting on Jan. 19. The plan included several large items like the regional landfill development, a new payloader and streetsweeper, swimming pool upgrades and new boards in the arena. Mayor Rennie Harper said the proposed budget looks well into the future.

“We want to start to think about putting money away over a period of time, so we’re not so hamstrung every time we’re doing a budget,” she said.

The projected increase will allow the community to not cut services, plus move forward with the capital expenditures listed above. Council is expected to receive the report in mid-February with a March approval. Harper said other factors will play a role in council’s decision.

“We are always looking at cost of living increases. We are in the process of collective bargaining, so we need to have a contingency plan for that. Those are the types of topics we are dealing with,” Harper said.

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Both council and administration believed they have a head start on this year’s spending plan, but chief administrative officer Barry Elliott said the town will wait for the provincial budget announcement. Elliott applauded council for the work put in so far.

He said the process could become streamlined with the hiring of another finance staff member at roughly $60,000 per year, and $40,000 spent in finance department software upgrades.

“There is a greater focus being spent by council in terms of strengthening the finance department to make sure we’re being more proactive in sharing information,” Elliott said.

The town will publicly discuss their five year strategic plan, created last year. An openhouse will be held Monday at 4:30 p.m. 

The event will take place at the Evergreen Centre.

clark.stork@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @ClarkStork