Pugwash tax rate on the rise

Commission approves $242,877 budget

Owning property in Pugwash is going to be a little more expensive after the village commission passed its 2018-19 budget.

For the first time since 2004, the village tax rate is increasing – this time by two cents per $100 of taxable assessment.

The village rate is on top of the property taxes assessed by the Municipality of Cumberland as part of its regular budget process.

“It has been kept low for many years, but you can only pull that string for so long before it breaks,” village clerk Lisa Betts said. “We need to be responsible and put some money away for our capital reserve. It’s something the provincial Municipal Affairs office is reminding its municipalities about.”

Betts said the village’s financial house is in good shape, but a drop in assessments in the village and the need to build up the reserves are the main reason behind the tax hike. She said it’s not a big jump for most ratepayers in the village.

“For the average home in the core of the village is amounts to about $14 a year,” she said.

The county rate is now 32 cents per $100 of assessment while the commercial rate is 39 cents per $100.

Capital plans for this year include renovations to the village hall, with assistance from the Municipality of Cumberland, the province and the federal government, as well as work on the stage at Eaton Park and a new tractor and attachments for snow clearing operations. The commission presently contracts the service, but Betts said commission members feel it would be more cost effective to purchase a tractor for the village and use it year-round.

Commission members are also giving themselves a $50 stipend for each meeting they attend, which will cost $3,000 for the year.