2022-23 Budget Information

Town Council approves 2022-23 Operating and Capital Budgets.

On Monday, March 21, 2022, Town Council approved the 2022-23 General Operating Budget. The following rates have been set:

  • commercial rate of $4.290 per $100 on the value of the property assessed in the assessment roll as Commercial property and Business Occupancy
  • residential rate $1.810 per $100 on the value of the property assessed in the assessment roll as Residential and Resource property
  • farm acreage rate $3.14 per acre for property assessed in the assessment roll as Farm Acreage,
  • seasonal tourist rate $3.218 per $100 on the value of the property assessed in the assessment roll as Seasonal Tourist Businesses,
  • sewer service charge of a flat fee of $250 plus an additional rate of $0.21 per $100 on the value of the property assessed in the assessment roll as taxable Residential and Commercial property on which any building is connected to the sewage system of the Town,
  • hydrant rate of $0.16 per $100 on the value of all properties assessed in the assessment roll.

The commercial and residential rates represent a $0.02 cent increase over the previous year.

The Town's 5-year Town General Capital Investment Plan was approved in the amount of $6.5 m.

The Town's 5-year Water Capital Investment Plan was approved in the amount of $5.7 m.

To view the draft budget documents as presented at the March 21 Town Council meeting click here.

Page Contents:

Budget Timeline
21 Mar: 2022-23 Operating Budget V3, Capital Budget V2
07 Mar: 2022-23 Operating Budget Tax Rate Increase Options
22 Feb: 2022-23 Operating Budget V2 and Capital Budget V1
07 Feb: 2022-23 Operating Budget V1
2022-23 Budget Information and Input Session
Budget Feedback and Questions

 Budget Timeline
2022 23 Budget Info Presentation 1

 *All Council meetings can be watched Live or after the meeting on our Facebook Page. You do not need a Facebook account to watch the videos.

21 Mar: 2022-23 Operating Budget V3, Capital Budget V2

Operating Budget changes from V2:

  • increases in revenue from Annapolis County for Fire Services and Recreation of $5,000;
  • decrease in revenue for Recreation (summer student grant) of $6,000;
  • decrease in expenditures for the RCMP of $16,727;
  • decrease in expenditures for Council remuneration and assessment of $2,600;

After much discussion, Council approved the 2022-23 Operating Budget with a 2-cent increase on the residential and commercial tax rates.

Capital Budget V2 changes:

  • Brooklyn Road watermain extension estimated cost was updated to reflect the tender amount of $308,323. An increase of $50,000.

To view budget information from the March 21 Town Council meeting click here.

07 Mar: 2022-23 Operating Budget Tax Rate Increase Options

Council was provided several tax increase scenarios ranging from no increase to a 7-cent increase. After much discussion, Council directed staff to bring back a budget with a 7-cent increase to both residential and commercial tax rates, including a 10% reduction in council remunderation for 2022-23.

7-cents  would add an additional $85,302 of revenue, reducing the shortfall and the use of prior years surplus to $138,864.

To view the budget information from the March 7 Committee of the Whole meeting click here.

22 Feb: 2022-23 Operating Budget V2, Capital Budget V1

Operating Budget V2 Shortfall is $223,000

Changes from V1:

  • $10,000 added expense for the Boundary Review, funded from prior years surplus
  • ($6,000) reduced revenue for anticipated grant for parks student that was not received
  • $55,000 added expense to maintain public works staffing levels
  • $1,375 added expense for increase to annual IT subsciprtions
  • $2,000 added expense for janitorial services
  • $5,700 added expense for contribution to assessment services (Property Valuation Services Corporation)
  • $5,000 added expense for outsource of planning services.

Council requested staff prepare information showing the impact of increaseing the rates by up to 10 cents for consideration.

Capital Budget V1 highlights:

  • Facilities: Community Centre Fire Hall is planned for full tender in June 2022. Construction will span over two years, with an estimated cost of $1.9 m in both 2022/23 and 2023/24.
  • Fleet: 2 half ton trucks have been identified for critical replacement. budget estimate is $90,000
  • Water: New reservoir remains a priority and is planned to be tender this year. Construction will span over two years, with an estimated cost of $1.4 m in 2022/23 and $2.7 in 2023/24
  • There are no major road, storm water or waste water scheduled for 2022/23.

To view the budget information from the February 22 Town Council meeting click here.

 07 Feb: 2022-23 Operating Budget V1

At the February Committee of the Whole Meeting, staff presented V1 of the 2022-23 Operating Plan.
Key highlights of V1:

Revenues:

  • No change in the residential or commercial tax rates, resulting in an increase to taxation revenue of $100,000 over the previous year.

Expenditures:

  • $153,000 increase to Protective Services due to ratification of the RCMP contract;
  • $40,000 increase to the Town's annual contribution to the Nova Scotia Housing Authority;
  • $20,000 increase to equipment maintenance to reflect a fleet maintenance program;
  • $15,000 towards a Secondary Plan for future Northwest development;
  • $50,000 towards a Transportation Master Plan ($25,000 covered by a grant);
  • $17,000 increase to debt/term repayments and interest for prior year capital borrrowing.

V1 Shortfall is $141,182

The proposal to reduce 1 FTE (full-time equivilant) position in the Public Works department will not go forward.  The position will be added back to V2, increasing the shortfall.

V1 Documents: pdf2022-23 Operating Budget V1 and Info. Report; pdfV1 2022-23 Operating Budget Presentation (Feb. 7, 2022)

2022-23 Budget Information and Input Session

On Thursday, February 10, 2022, the Town of Middleton held a virtual budget information and input session. The session was live streamed on our Facebook Live page and is available to re-watch when the session ends.  

Session documents: pdf2022-23 Budget Info & Input Presentation (Feb.10, 2022); pdf2022-23 Budget Feedback Report (Feb. 10, 2022)

 Budget Feedback and Questions

If you would like to provide feedback or ask a question regarding V1 of the budget, you can email ea@town.middleton.ns.ca up until Wednesday, February 16 to have it included in the summary document.