Council of Region of Queens Municipality Approves 2021-2022 Budget

April 28, 2021; Liverpool, NS:  Following several months of budget planning and deliberations, the annual Operating, Water Utility, and Capital Budgets for Region of Queens Municipality were unanimously approved at the April 27, 2021 Regular Council meeting.  This is the first budget of the newly elected Council. Operating Budget total is $21,968,378, including Hillsview Acres. The 2021-2022 Water Utility Budget totals $758,678, and the Capital Budget total is $22,459,135. 

“We’re moving towards a more accessible and inclusive community which will be attractive for present and future residents.  Internal and external requests for increased financial support has made this a challenging budget year which requires increased funding.  Our infrastructure needs upgrading and in some instances replacement,” said Mayor Darlene Norman.

Region of Queens Municipality’s tax rates are inclusive of services such as fire services, street lighting, solid waste collection, and paving, which are often collected as area rates in other Municipalities. This budget will see a tax rate increase of 4 cents in residential, resource and commercial rates.  Those on the Liverpool Water Utility will see a one cent decrease in hydrant rates, so their tax increase will be 3 cents per $100 assessment.

Tax bills will be mailed to property owners by the end of May, with taxes due upon receipt, however, if paid by June 30, 2021, no interest charges will be applied. 

The 2021-2022 Operating, Water Utility and Capital Budgets will be posted on-line on Wednesday, April 28, 2021:        https://www.regionofqueens.com/municipal-services/finance/financial-statement

Residents wishing to watch Council approve the budgets may watch the video on the Region of Queens Municipality’s YouTube channel, to be posted by end of day April 28, 2021: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK2q2i7QSvBDBqS38uCApvQ/videos

 

Fact Sheet

2021-2022 Budget, Region of Queens Municipality

  • An increase in Residential, Resource and Commercial Tax of four cents per $100 assessment for all properties throughout Queens County.
  • A one cent decrease in hydrant charges in District 13 and those in Districts 1, 3, 5, and 6 for those properties connected to, or have the ability to connect to Liverpool’s Water Utility.
  • Residential and Resource Tax Rate for Districts 1 – 12 (all communities, excluding Liverpool) is now $1.10 per $100 assessment.
  • Residential and Resource Tax Rate for District 13 (Liverpool) is now $1.96 per $100 assessment.
  • Commercial Tax Rate Districts 1 – 12 is now $2.20 per $100 assessment.
  • Commercial Tax Rate for District 13 is now $3.06 per $100 assessment.
  • The Water Utility Budget is projecting a deficit of $40,253 with no rate increase.
  • A number of cost increases are included in the budget, which fall outside the Municipality’s ability to control or influence. Those increase include:
    • Policing increase 3% increase, amounting to $91,803 more
    • Education increase 26% increase, amounting to $37,562 more
    • Housing/Corrections/Roads undetermined, anticipated increase of $8,749
    • Solid Waste contract 21% increase, amounting to $216,043 more
  • 2 cents of the 4 cent increase will be provided to the five volunteer fire departments in Queens (Greenfield and District Volunteer Fire Department, Liverpool Fire Fighters Association, Mill Village and District Volunteer Fire Department, North Queens Fire Association, and Port Medway Fire Department). This will total $196,433 in additional funding for fire departments.
  • Accessibility upgrades of $100,000 are budgeted at Town Hall Arts and Cultural Centre and Astor Theatre.
  • Over the past several years, there have been droughts in late summer, and to help residents, Council approved a funding program to support agreements with community organizations to open showers for community use in times and locations as requested by the Municipality.
  • As part of regular maintenance, the Sewage Treatment facility in South Queens will have dredging completed this year of Cells 2 & 3, at a cost of $150,000.
  • Queens County Daycare will receive one-time funding of $30,000.
  • Capital projects totaling $22,459,135 are budgeted for projects, pending grant approvals, including upgrades to water and sewer infrastructure on Court Street and Union Street, as well as re-routing water distribution lines from the water treatment facility.
  • Funds have been allocated in the amount of $2,500,000 for an outdoor pool in South Queens, to replace the 54 year old Milton Centennial Pool.
  • Funds have been budgeted to install a fuel system at South Shore Regional Airport, at a cost of $50,000.
  • A Diversity and Inclusion grant program will be established to support and encourage not-for-profit groups develop and offer programs or services, create infrastructure, host events, or offer educational training that has a diversity and inclusion focus.