The tax rate in Quispamsis is going up by one cent to $1.29 with town council unanimously passing its $23.5-million 2018 budget.
Mayor Gary Clark says for a home that’s assessed at $234,000 that’ll mean an extra $23 a year in property taxes. He tells us that staff originally presented a tax rate increase of three cents.
“We certainly heard from everyone and we were open, transparent with the budget and with a lot of work from council and staff we were able to bring it down to once cent,” says Clark.
“What that one cent will do will bring the tax base to $1.678-billion which represents a .3 percent decrease from the 2017 tax base.”
Mayor Gary Clark says there is a definite balance that you have to strike when it comes to the budget and the services provided for residents.
Next year in the town over $1.5-million is going towards repairing and paving streets in the town. The town is increasing its protective services contribution by approximately $450,000 to $6.6-million. $160,000 is going towards local improvements, storm sewer work and traffic calming. The budget for Comex has been increased by 7800 to just over $163,000. Councillor Pierre Rioux has expressed that he would like to see funding for that transit service halted completely.
Residents will see their sewer user rate go up $8 or 1.94% over the 2017 rate while water usage fees are going up slightly for both fixed and consumption charge components.
