A property tax hike of one cent being recommended for the town of Rothesay during a special council meeting on the budget for the upcoming year.
The town currently has a property tax rate of $1.20, and with the increase that would be $1.21. Chair of the Finance Commitee Blair MacDonald says the recommended property tax increase is because expenses are going up three to four percent a year, however through assessments the revenue is only up less than one percent.
In the draft budget presented to council there’s an increase of approximately 5.6-percent in total water and sewer fees for users. MacDonald says keeping the water system going is a 24-7 exercise, and it has to meet those standards continously.
MacDonald believes this is the eighth budget he’s been involved with and says they have not skimped on the service level here or the work they do out of the operating fund like repaving and equipment purchases. That, along with what he deems a “modest tax increase” is a “win-win-win,” says MacDonald.
The 2016 budget will be on next Monday’s council agenda for council’s consideration.
