(File photo/northeastNOW)

By Ben Tompkins

Slight tax increase

Town of Nipawin finally releases 2023 municipal budget

May 12, 2023 | 9:47 AM

For residents in the Town of Nipawin, they now know what their tax rate increases will be for the 2023 year.

The town recently released its 2023 municipal budget during their council meeting on Monday.

With it came a slight tax rate increase of 1.36 per cent, which is much lower than the year-to-year inflation rate, which has been sitting around 6.8 per cent.

“To propose a 1.36% tax increase is very good, and I do believe it’s a good budget,” said CAO Joel Cardinal. “The budget includes a lot of provisions for some long-term planning and economic development initiatives to be pursued.”

Numbers include a total operating budget of just over $10.6 million and total operating expenses of just under $9.9 million, while capital funding and expenses will break even.

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Meanwhile, utilities will see a net surplus of slightly above $500,000.

For all other budget numbers, they can be viewed on the council’s agenda.

And while May isn’t a typical time for a budget to come out, according to Cardinal, their administration underwent some change and did not want to rush the decision.

“That change was considered in the best interest of the town of what they thought they were implementing in at that time, and there were some accounting systems, conversions and a scope of work involved in ensuring that stuff was finalized,” he added.

“In order for us to actually have some data and figures to work with in compiling and completing a budget, however, under the circumstances, the administration definitely feels that it has to come together in terms of presenting an appropriate budget.”

One of the capital projects that will likely take a majority of Nipawin’s focus for at least the next year is the decommissioning of their landfill.

As of right now, that was pencilled in at over $3.5 million, however, that number could be larger.

That was another topic of discussion with council, as they now consider their next steps.

“That’s why a 1.36% increase proposed for this year, given the cost performance index rate of inflation, increased construction costs, and all of that is very good and allows us to do that planning where we can then identify the projects that will provide the biggest return on value,” Cardinal explained. “Then, we can go about better planning and how to execute those projects, so that it’s more effective.”

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