North Battleford residents could be looking at a mill rate increase of 3.9 per cent in 2012.
That is the recommendation coming from City administration as it released its 2012 operations and capital budget. Details of the budget were released Friday by the City and the actual budget was tabled Monday night at North Battleford city council's final meeting of 2012.
In presenting the budget, Director of Finance Byron Tumbach announced this would be his final budget in that position for the City of North Battleford. He is leaving the city for what he says is a new opportunity in the Qu'Appelle Valley.
The property tax will vary depending on which class and which assessment the ratepayer is in, but for a residential or condo assessment of 70,000 the increase would amount to $56. For a multifamily four-plex it would be $90 and for a commercial property assessed at 100,000 it would be $100.
The proposed 3.9 per cent increase is still subject to changes, though, as council begins budget deliberations starting Tuesday night and continuing Wednesday and Dec. 19 and 20. Those meetings go from 7 to 9:30 p.m. and are open to the public.
In a Dec. 8 news release, the city noted administration had set a target of four per cent or less for tax and utility increases and are proposing a 3.9 per cent increase.
The increase for 2012 is partly due to increased policing costs, with the city footing the bill for two of the five additional RCMP officers to be posted here. Also contributing to the increase are several other initiatives include expanded transit, completion of the Credit Union CUPlex, expanded water treatment capacity, the creation of a history book for the 2013 Centennial, a new emergency operations centre and creation of an asset management strategy plan.
In its news release, the City says the current budget will maintain services and focus on investments.
The budget deliberations are off to a much faster start than in years past, as the city had established new timelines in October for creating and presenting the budget document. In a statement Tumbach said this was the first time the process is to be completed before the New Year.
