The Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay passed its 2021 budget on Tuesday with no increase to residential or business mill rates.
The budget was $14,688,624, about $500,000 less than last year, and was described as "fiscally conservative" by Coun. Michelle Baikie, chair of the finance, administration and policy committee.
Baikie said in the meeting that the COVID-19 pandemic was a challenge for council when coming up with the budget, including the additional costs of cleaning town facilities, purchasing additional protective equipment and the loss of revenue from landfill tipping fees and recreational facilities. Baikie said the town expects a similar trend in 2021 and budgeted for it. Federal COVID-19-related funding of $476,519 was used to balance the 2021 budget, which is a requirement of a municipality in this province.
"Budget 2021, while fiscally conservative, is at the same time very much a strategic budget, one that will allow us to meet our strategic objectives while, at the same time, continuing to invest in people and quality services to benefit our residents," she said.
In addition to the mill rates staying the same — 6.75 mills for residential property and 11 mills for commercial property — there will be no increases to the minimum vacant commercial property tax, water and sewer rates, or recreational, equipment and tipping fees.
Deputy Mayor Bert Pomeroy said he was happy they were able to balance the budget without increases to the mill rates.
“Given what we’ve gone through this year as a community, as a town, I think that’s very good news for the community, that we managed to hold our own,” he said.
Other highlights
Pomeroy and other members of council brought up the Central Labrador YMCA, which is on schedule for a spring 2021 opening, and they were happy that could proceed on that project without any tax increases.
The property tax low-income relief policy remains in effect for 2021, with an increase to the thresholds of two per cent, making the lower threshold $25,806 and the upper threshold $47,685, with varying levels of discounts at each threshold.
Coun. Jackie Compton Hobbs said 56 people availed of the 100 per cent discount in 2020, and the increase is a help to lower-income families.
The town is also funding a transportation study to look at residents' accessibility needs, with a focus on public transport.
“It’s something that’s been talked about for years, about a need for some type of public transportation program here,” Coun. Lori-Dyson Edmunds said, adding she was happy to see it proceeding.
The town is also putting $832,000 toward water and sewer projects, such as pumphouse upgrades, water line upgrades and sewage lift station upgrades.
New hires planned for the year include a fire protection officer, three permanent-seasonal heavy equipment operators and four temporary-seasonal positions under the public works department.
The budget has been sent to the provincial Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Municipalities for approval, which usually occurs in January of the new year.
Evan Careen is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering Labrador for SaltWire Network.
