Residents in the Town of St. Paul will need to prepare themselves for a possible three per cent tax increase this year.
During the April 11 Town of St. Paul meeting, CAO Steven Jeffery gave a budget briefing as the year’s final budget gets closer and closer. Both positive and negative news was shared with the biggest takeaway being the three percent tax increase to balance the budget.
Jeffery says the town has seen insurance costs increase across the town alongside the town’s operations already exceeding its quarterly estimates.
“The biggest hit is the $327,835 expectations from the feds to pay the RCMP retroactive pay raise. We have included in the budget in its entirety“
Jeffery says even with the three percent tax increase, the draft budget still shows a small deficit. The Chief Financial Officer Mitchel Bachelet was also present during the meeting and shared sentiments saying the retroactive RCMP pay hurts.
St. Paul Mayor Maureen Miller said it might be prudent to schedule a special meeting to go over things with a comb-over of everything.
“Our budgets are tight, these are why we are having difficult conversations over $700 banners.“
Both the draft operating and draft capital plans will be discussed during a special meeting.