By Clark Stork

Tisdale taxpayers to see 1.5 per cent hike

Mar 13, 2018 | 5:00 PM

The Town of Tisdale is spending big, but taxpayers aren’t facing a heavy hike.

A 1.5 per cent tax increase will generate just over $4 million in revenue for 2018. The funds will cover large capital projects such as a $1.3 million renovation of the RECplex roof, $675,000 in subdivision developments, $570,000 in new paving, and $300,000 in water line replacements. Council is also going to pay back over $788,000 in debt reduction as agreed by council at Monday’s meeting.

Chief Administrative Officer Brad Hvidston said the budget is positive in both spending and debt repayment compared to the last eight years.

“We’ve been anywhere from 2.6 per cent to 4.75 per cent,” Hvidston said.

Council increased taxes by one per cent last year. Despite a one-half percentage point increase this year Hvidston said council and residents are optimistic regarding the news.

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“I think everybody is happy when we can keep the increase down and especially if we don’t reduce any services. We didn’t do that, so it helps,” he said.

Council also agreed to extend the lighting along Highway 3 that runs East-West through the South end of the town. Hvidston said over $5 million in building permit funds and developing new tax bases with incoming businesses helped keep the number low and maintain the town’s services.

Council will now determine how the increase will be collected through both a base tax and the mill rate. That’s expected to be decided upon at the next meeting in two weeks.

clark.stork@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @ClarkStork