Amalgamation hesitation
Financial consultant says taking a ‘do-nothing’ approach not an option for proposed amalgamation
Taking a “do-nothing” approach is not an option when it comes to deciding on the future of the Three Rivers area, says a financial consultant.
Everett Roche, a managing partner with MRSB, made the statement while presenting a detailed look at MRSB’s draft final report on how communities would be affected in a proposed amalgamation during a public meeting at Montague Regional High School Tuesday night.
New requirements for communities under the soon-to-be proclaimed Municipal Government Act (MGA) will mean higher taxes whether or not the six municipalities in the area choose to amalgamate, said Roche.
“Change is coming and small municipalities are going to have to provide more services,” he said. “With those changes will come higher taxes. So the donothing scenario is not really a status quo for a lot of the smaller municipalities especially.”
About 150 individuals attended the meeting, which was the first chance for the public to comment on the report.
Residents in the area raised both support and concerns throughout the evening.
Blair Sorrey, of Brudenell, said while amalgamation was a worthy concept, the proposal was “deeply flawed.”
“We’re eliminating our entire community council and chairperson and we’re handing the keys of our community to this new super council, if you will, and IRAC,” said Sorrey, noting that Brudenell could support itself even under the new MGA requirements.
“(The proposal) doesn’t answer questions about sewer and water, and future taxes, it kicks it down the road to future councils and IRAC and that’s something that deeply concerns me.”
Uncertainty over future decisions was a key factor in many of the concerns raised throughout the night.
The current proposal would see Brudenell, Lorne Valley, Lower Montague, Montague, Valleyfield and Cardigan as well as several smaller unincorporated communities in three fire districts combine to create a new municipality.
It would mean introducing a non-commercial tax rate of five cents per $100 of assessed value for those living in the unincorporated areas.
Those in Brudenell, Lorne Valley, Lower Montague and Valleyfield would pay nine cents per $100 of assessed value, while Cardigan residents would pay 26 cents and Montague residents would pay 53 cents.
Many of the concerns throughout the night came from those in unincorporated areas, with some saying there would be nothing from stopping a future council from raising the rates.
Some unincorporated residents said they have no voice in the matter and started a petition asking the province to hold a plebiscite asking if they want to be involved.
Both Montague and Brudenell will be holding plebiscites on the amalgamation.
Resident Sandra MacDonald, who supported the proposal, said forming the new municipality would give those residents a voice on future issues.
“They would then be part of a community where they would get a vote,” said MacDonald, who praised the steering committee.
A second meeting will be held this Thursday at 7 p.m. at Kaylee Hall in Pooles Corner.
The Three Rivers report is available online at www.3riverspei.com