Tax rates reduced in Berwick
Increase in assessments helps town balance budget
Berwick councillors have approved a budget that sees the tax rates reduced by a cent.
The residential rate will be $1.578 per $100 of assessment while the commercial rate will be $3.89 per $100 of assessment.
The town’s budget shows an increase in revenue of $372,000 from residential taxes and $72,500 from commercial taxes due to increased development in town and assessments increasing. Residential assessments in town are up 30 per cent, residential assessments with the capped assessment program have increased by 15.8 per cent and commercial assessments are up 4.7 per cent.
“Council is very pleased with the work by staff to put this budget together,” Mayor Don Clarke said in a news release. “It will allow us to move forward on a number of much-needed initiatives and gives a small decrease in the tax rate.”
The $6-million operating budget includes an enhanced maintenance and service plan within the environmental services and public works departments and a $200,000 budget to continue the street repair program.
“Budget priorities focus on additional resources through enhancements to technology and staffing complement to allow for succession planning while improving service levels within the community, providing capacity to achieve the priorities as
detailed within the operational plan,” the release said.
The $12-million capital investment plan includes the completion of the solar garden located near Highway 101, an accessible customer service area in town hall, a new plow truck, public works building upgrades, a stormwater management plan, sidewalk replacement, planned upgrades to the waste-water treatment plant, as well as various upgrades to parks and trails.
Fire service projects, funded in partnership with the fire protection commissioners and the Berwick and District Volunteer Fire Department, include a portable pumper truck, fire rescue tools and a water storage shed.
The budget documents are on the town’s website at www.berwick. ca/2023-24budget.html.