Annapolis Royal budget approved

Annapolis Royal councillors were able to pass the budget without raising the tax rate for the 2024-25 fiscal year but some big decisions loom.

Council passed its $2.8-million operating budget April 17. It sees the tax rates remain at $1.70 (residential) and $3.20 (commercial) per $100 of assessed value.

The town is preparing for the day it stops receiving the grant in lieu of taxes for the Annapolis Tidal Generating Station, which Nova Scotia Power shut down in January 2019. The grant accounts for $427,040 in this year’s budget, representing about 15 per cent of the town’s revenue.

“This wasn’t the hard budget because the money is still there,” said Mayor Amery Boyer.

“Some people would say, ‘Well, we should be cutting spending now,’ but then you have a public with expectations, you have these big infrastructure projects (and) they haven’t weighed in on them yet.”

The town is hosting a public meeting May 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion in town to discuss its five-year infrastructure plan, seawall and wharf.

“In a way, this was an easier budget because we haven’t had that tough talk, which will come in May,” Boyer said.

She said staff had proposed a 10-cent increase to the rate as a way of planning for the future, but Boyer said council members wanted to hear from residents first.

“You want the horse before the cart,” she said, noting the budget struck a balance as council did put $70,000 towards the five-year capital plan.

She said this year’s budget has $140,000 for road repairs, funds to replace some vehicles as well as money to replace the leaking roof at town hall, two lift station pumps and a wetlands lift station and to assist with replacing the liner at the outdoor pool.

And while the tax rates remain the same, residents could be paying more as assessments are up in town. Boyer said many of its residential properties are capped, resulting in an increase of $114,000 in revenue for the town.