Region of Queens approves balanced budget with no tax rate hike
The Region of Queens approved its 2024/25 budgets on Monday. (Rick Conrad)
Region of Queens council approved a balanced budget on Monday with no tax rate increases and almost $30 million in spending.
At a special meeting, councillors also approved a $21.5-million capital budget, which includes the start of big projects like the water and sewer extension to the Mount Pleasant area and the new outdoor community pool at Queens Place Emera Centre.
Spending is up about $4 million from last year, to $29,848,303. The region’s water utility reported a $442,122 deficit.
Mayor Darlene Norman said in an interview that it was important to councillors not to increase the tax rate.
“We live in a great county and the budget reflects the fact that we are moving ahead,” she said.
“Many things in the budget remain the same. We’ve increased funding for fire departments for their truck purchases. The cost of those trucks is astronomical and we know how as volunteers how hard they work.
“It’s a good budget, it recognizes some requests from all parts of our county.”
Council committed an extra $126,772 in 2024/25 to help the county’s five fire departments with the rising costs of replacing fire trucks.
It also raised the household income threshold for the low-income tax exemption by $5,000. Property owners with a total income of $35,000 or less can qualify for up to $400 off their tax bill. The tiered structure gives the highest break for the lowest income.
“We understand that people financially struggle,” Norman said, “which is why … we increased the amount of money that people can make in order to claim a reduction on their taxes, … which is very generous, I believe, for a municipality of our size.”
The region reported a $644,000 surplus from last year, largely from rising property assessments, higher deed transfer tax revenue and unintended savings from unfilled staff positions.
The region’s capital plan is packed.
CAO Cody Joudry said in an interview that it addresses a lot of concerns around the municipality.
“In terms of capital budget, it’s expansion of water, wastewater, there’s a lot of safety improvements and upgrades and a lot of investment in infrastructure and community assets, so I think that’s pretty significant.”
A little more than $7.8 million of the $21.5-million capital budget for 24/25 is provincial funding. Almost $2.5 million is from federal sources. About $3.8 million is from long-term borrowing, while $3.53 million is from a combination of municipal reserves and municipal surplus.
In addition to the new pool and the water and sewer extension, some other capital projects include:
- more work at Beach Meadows Beach to expand the parking lot, install sheltered picnic areas and improve environmental protections;
- much-needed repairs and upgrades at the Old Burial Ground in Liverpool;
- continued work on the Liverpool Business Development Centre to install a new heating, ventilation and cooling system;
- renovations to make the business development centre, otherwise known as the call centre space, ready for the temporary home of the Thomas H. Raddall Library;
- the early design work to install accessible washrooms at the inclusive play park and splash pad near Queens Place.
“There are things on there that are very important,” Norman said. “Of course, they will not all get done (this year), but by putting them on here, it shows that these are priorities and start them, do the best that you can do with them.”
Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com
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