The Town of Arborg plans to increase its total operational spending by 9.2 per cent in 2025, according to its budget released last month.
Council is expecting to bring in total revenues of $2,698,357 in 2025. The town’s actual revenue in 2024 was $2,473,172, and it spent $2,470,390, leaving a net operating surplus of $2,781.
The town’s mill rate (municipal tax) in 2025 will be decreasing by 2.094 mills from that of 2024.
As 2025 is a provincial property tax re-assessment year and there was a change in the way school property taxes are calculated, some property owners in Arborg may see an increase in their taxes and others may not. Overall, the provincial assessment trend shows an increase in property values.
Council expects to spend money from some of its reserves in 2025, including $45,000 from the Building Reserve, $25,000 from the Paving Reserve, $90,000 from the CCBF Reserve and $8,000 from the Handivan Reserve.
Council will transfer $10,000 to its Building Reserve and spend $45,000, leaving a balance of $52,043. Council will not transfer to or spend any money from its PCH Building Reserve, which stands at $215,910. The Equipment Replacement Reserve, will get a top-up of $10,000 to bring its closing balance to $118,326. Council’s spending of $8,000 from the Handivan Reserve will bring its balance down to $12,988.
Council will transfer $10,000 to the Recreation & Cultural Reserve to bring its closing balance up to $65,225. Council will spend $190,000 from the Canada-Community Building Reserve and transfer in $71,000, bringing the closing balance to $62,514. There will be no transfers to or expenditures from the Arborg-Bifrost Fire Shared Reserve which has a balance of $143,471.
Capital expenditures for 2025 include $50,000 for sidewalk construction, funded by the Canada – Community Building Reserve Fund, $40,000 for drainage funded by the Canada – Community Building Reserve Fund, $20,000 for a seacan container and shelving (use unspecified) funded by the general operating fund, and $356,600 for handivan upgrades, which will be funded by a MEDIP grant, rural transit solutions fund, the Handivan Reserve and proceeds from a sale (unspecified). The town is receiving a $185,600 grant from the federal Liberal government and a $135,000 grant from the provincial NDP government for the handivan upgrade.
The Town is embarking on a number of capital projects in 2025, including well mechanization that will be funded by the CCBF Reserve and the Manitoba Water Services Board ($600,000), and wastewater treatment plant upgrades that will be funded through borrowing ($250,000).
The town’s five-year capital plan includes sidewalks in 2027 and 2029 ($100,000), which will be borne from reserves, the public works shop in 2030 ($200,000) that will be funded from reserves, the recreation complex in 2026 ($50,00) borne from operating, a pool liner in 2027 ($60,000) that will be funded through operating and reserves, the arena ice plant in 2028 ($250,000) that will be funded through borrowing, and paving projects in 2029 ($2 million) that will be borne partly through reserves and partly through borrowing, the water treatment plant filtration in 2026 ($1,148,000) that will be funded through borrowing ($574,000) and through “other” ($574,000), a lift station upgrade in 2026 ($182,000) reserves ($91,000) and through “other” ($91,000), an intercept sewer in 2026 ($201,000) funded through reserves ($100,500) and through “other ($100,500), WM upgrades in 2027 ($891,000) and in 2030 ($1,110,000) funded through borrowing ($1,000,500) and other ($1,000,500), the lift station north in 2027 ($600,000) that will be borne through borrowing ($300,000) and other ($300,000), and lagoon repairs in 2028 ($450,000) that will be funded through borrowing ($225,000) and other ($225,000).
The Express reached out to the town and mayor for comment.
For more information about the budget, visit the Town of Arborg’s website www.townofarborg.com
