The City of Melfort has passed their 2024 budget. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW Staff)

By Cam Lee

Melfort tax increase

Melfort council passes budget with six per cent tax increase

Feb 20, 2024 | 5:08 PM

Residents in Melfort will have to dig a little deeper to pay their property tax in 2024.

Six per cent, to be exact.

The city has passed its 2024 operating budget, and while the base tax remains unchanged, the mill rate has been increased by six per cent.

“As a council we’re committed to providing the best services to our residents,” Mayor Glenn George told northeastNOW. “We kept the (tax) increase as low as we could, which is six per cent.”

It’s expected the revenue from property taxes will increase by $295,501 with the increase, while the city says a 10 per cent increase in landfill fees will bring in $81,333.

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As a comparison, Humboldt increased its 2024 property tax by 4.58 per cent, while also hiking water and sewer rates by 5.2 per cent.

A significant reason for the tax increase is the higher costs associated with inflation, according to George.

“Despite the challenges posed by inflation and the carbon tax, we have carefully planned and allocated our resources to ensure the well-being of our community,” said George.

A city news release on the budget states the budget “sets the stage for a prosperous future for Melfort, with a focus on enhancing facilities, infrastructure, and essential services.”

George said the budget invests in the city’s physical infrastructure, and in the residents’ well-being.

“Our committment to providing exceptional services and amenities remains unwavering.”

The budget includes a couple of new jobs within the city. The HR/communications coordinator and a Community Development Coordinator are expected to cost $223,720 in salary and benefits.

The city will be spending $20,100 on the upcoming civic election in November. An increase in financial contract fees of $61,000 is earmarked for accounting services, while a new corporate training budget of $15,000 has been pegged to support council and staff.

Communities in Bloom has asked for $12,400 in support, and new benefits software will cost the city $18,242.

All of those enhancements led to an increase of $350,462 to the base budget.

Recreation rates remain the same in 2024, and there is also no change to utility rates.

Capital budget items include the building of an engineered landfill to replace the existing landfill, which will be closed as per a regulatory requirement from the Ministry of Environment.

The city’s capital draft plan states that expenditure will require them to borrow $8 million.

Meanwhile, the city will also be purchasing a ‘gently used’ Ladder Aerial Pumper to replace their current pumper. Other capital investments include the replacement of various water mains and sidewalks along with a new arena score clock, as replacement parts for the clock are becoming more difficult to find.

In their news release, the city said these initiatives “align with our strategic plan to provide exceptional recreational opportunities, excellence in assets, and dynamic economic diversity and prosperity. We are excited to embark on these projects and ensure a sustainable future for our city.”

Council approved both the capital and operating budgets on Tuesday.

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cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK