For a third consecutive year, Rothesay residents could avoid seeing municipal taxes rise.
Rothesay council received a presentation on the upcoming year’s $18.9-million budget on Monday evening.
The draft budget for 2021 is three per cent higher than the 2020 budget. The increase is fueled by a 3.1 per cent increase in the town’s property tax assessments.
Staff estimate the town will net an additional $500,000 in revenue due to the assessment upswing.
The next step is to allow for public feedback, but that process will be different for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Normally, we would be in council chamber and the public would have the chance to provide feedback in that forum,” said town treasurer Doug MacDonald.
Residents have until noon on November 24 to submit their feedback, which will be presented to council at a special meeting on November 30.
While the tax rate is projected to remain the same, residents will likely see an increase in water rates.
An estimate by the town showed that the average resident would see their water and sewage costs rise from $880 in 2020 up to $924 next year.
