Property tax rates reduced
The Municipality of Shelburne has reduced tax rates in its $9,508,377 operating budget for 2024-25.
The residential tax rate has been set at $1.26 per $100 of assessment, down from $1.28 last year. The commercial tax rate is $1.82 per $100 of assessment, down from last year's rate of $1.85. The resource tax rate is $1.26 per $100 of assessment, a decrease from last year's $1.28 tax rate.
One cent of residential and resource tax generates $50,563. One cent of the commercial tax rate generates $4,086.
The reduction takes tax rates back to where they were in 2022-2023.
“This budget ensures that we will continue to maintain the services our residents and businesses have come to expect while strategically investing in our community within our fiscal resources,” said Warden Penny Smith in her budget address.
The municipality has amended its Low-Income
Tax Exemption Policy. An annual household income of $35,250 or less qualifies for a tax exemption of up to $150; income of $29,500 or less for up to $300; and $23,500 or less for up to $600.
“It is our hope that these amendments will enable the municipality to assist more residents who are the most vulnerable in our communities to stay in their homes," Smith said.
The municipality's 202425 capital budget is set at $763,343.
At the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year the municipality's total reserves will be approximately $5,394,343, once all projects are completed.
“Since 2020, council has worked diligently with staff to ensure that strategic decisions have been made to positively impact the growth and wellbeing of our municipality,” said Smith. “This year, council has identified the following five key priorities: Economic and Housing Development; Investment in Health Care; Land Use Planning; Renewable Energy; and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Opportunities.
Over the past year the municipality has been engaged in a detailed analysis of its economic position and has carried out a review of municipal property assets to determine feasibility and strategy direction for economic, housing and community development. It has also identified sector targets for future economic development activity and targeted economic growth.
"We continue to invest in the opportunities to position and market our beautiful location to attract industry leaders and entrepreneurs looking for development opportunities outside of urban centers," Smith said. "We have an ongoing program in which the municipality has been producing videos featuring and highlighting local businesses and promoting our area as a great place to work, live and play."
Smith noted the municipality must consider the challenge of providing adequate housing for all, saying it is a shared responsibility.
"We are engaging neighbouring municipalities, developers and housing interest organizations to leverage resources and expertise to build more housing. We are seeking to collaborate on the development of affordable, mixed-use, energy efficient and accessible housing. Our intent is to promote and support housing developments that align with these criteria," said Smith.
"We believe that by prioritizing these principles, we will not only support development to address supply shortage but also to support sustainable population growth.”
Quality health care continues to be one of council's top priorities.
"Beyond conventional recruitment and retention initiatives, our goal is to foster a supportive environment by encouraging preceptors, expanding recruitment endeavors to support local, long-term health-care staffing and cultivate a sense of health-care pride within our rural communities," Smith said. "We have enhanced our efforts in producing content that positions us as valuable contributors in health care recruitment conferences and retreats, thereby fortifying our ongoing involvement in these critical events.”
Smtih noted collaboration and partnerships with community organizations have been instrumental in carrying out municipal projects.
The municipality collaborated with the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre to develop a strategy for offering equity, inclusion and diversity education in the community and partnered with Nova Scotia Works and Nova Scotia Health to host a job fair-style recruitment session for Grade 11 students in Shelburne and Queens Counties.
The municipality has been working with the Black Loyalist Heritage Society to create opportunities for equity, diversity and inclusion training sessions to educate residents and the customer service industry to break social and cultural barriers in rural Nova Scotia.
“We are building a relationship with Nova Scotia Community College's Centre of Rural Aging and Health (CORAH) Program administrators to collaborate on community engagement and hospitality initiatives to welcome immigrating health-care providers and others to our community,” Smith added.
The municipality is also updating its Land-Use By-law and Municipal Planning Strategy and is required to complete this work by Dec. 31.
The municipality has hosted three open house engagements to provide residents the opportunity to share their community goals and vision, which Smith said will help the municipality shape its future through thoughtful, engaging and responsible planning. She encourages residents to stay informed on ways to engage in this process by following the municipality's Facebook page and website.