The Town of Millet has adopted a balanced budget for the 2017 fiscal year, with a three per cent residential tax increase.
“It was good to keep it down to three per cent. We were hoping to keep it lower but it’s just not possible at this time,” said mayor Tony Wadsworth.
The Town of Millet council approved the $4.2 million budget at its April 26 meeting. This is a 6.09 per cent increase over the 2016 budget.
“There was an increase in utilities across the board, mostly due to the carbon tax,” said CAO Teri Pelletier. Utilities are increasing 16 per cent from 2016.
Revenue increases in the 2017 budget include grant in lieu, at 11.22 per cent from last year; and revenues from municipal sources, an 11.76 per cent increase over the 2016 budget.
Commissioning the Millet waterline was a long awaited achievement for the Town of Millet; council is taking $90,000 from a stabilization reserve to add to the water services department’s revenue.
Wadsworth questioned if residents would see a water utilities increase because of the town joining the Capital Region Southwest Water Services Commission.
“Council did increase the rates at the beginning of the year, but they were not substantial,” said Pelletier.
The Town of Millet’s 2017 capital project budget was also approved, at $2.67 million.
“There are three projects that are carried over from 2016,” said Pelletier.
Sanitary/storm flushing and camera inspection, pedestrian bridges and the town five-year capital report are carried over from last year. The first is budgeted at $72,690, with that amount coming from provincial grant; the second is budgeted at $108,019, with that amount also coming from provincial grants. The third will cost $7,500 and the funds will come from operating.
Other items on the list include but are not limited to public service trucks, agriplex upgrades, power and gas to Diamond Drive, splash park repairs and the town’s off-leash dog park.
Within the budget — including the projects carried over from 2016 — $1.539 million is listed under provincial grants, $14,500 from operating and $1.12 million from reserves.