Altona town council released their 2024/25 financial plan at a public meeting on March 26.
In his financial report, Councilor Jordan Siemens says they worked hard to balance the numbers this year to keep residential and business taxes as close to par as possible.
According to this year’s plan, the Municipal Tax Levy will increase by $225,054 (4.13 per cent) from last year.
However, after factoring in the natural/supplemental tax increase of $106,618, the net increase in the 2024 Municipal Tax Levy is $121,435, representing an increase of 2.19 per cent.
The 2024 municipal mill rate will increase by 2.39 per cent, from 19.24 to 19.70.
The impact on municipal taxes will vary by residence or business, depending on the change in the property assessment value as determined by the local provincial assessment branch.
The Provincial Educational Support Levy mill rate has decreased from 8.14 to 8.12, and the Border Land School Division mill rate will also see an increase from 11.864 to 12.193.
What will this mean on your tax bill?
For a home assessed at $200,000, residents will see a $76 increase on their property taxes. Commercial properties assessed at the same value will see an increase of $106.
Siemens said the town is in a healthy financial place this year.
“Due to economic growth, we were able to keep our taxes fairly consistent.”
A major component of this year’s budget is the capital plan that council uses to ensure that long-term spending is prioritized and focused on needs versus wants.
In 2024, the Town of Altona will be working with an operating budget of $11,935,955, which will support a number of capital projects and initiatives.
The plan includes a comprehensive road renewal and infrastructure project of $1,188,300. This includes a Mill and Fill roads project, targeting various deteriorating streets. Work on the southwest drainage project will continue, and McKinley Cove will get a new walking path.
Phase 1 of the Business Park expansion project will cost $550,000.
Building an accessible washroom facility at Centennial Park is also on the list. This $30,000 project is the result of a Walk and Roll exercise hosted by the Accessibility committee last summer.
The Aquatic Park will receive a new pump for the waterslides. There will also be pathway and trail improvements, including lights. The Buffalo Creek Nature Park will see some bridge repairs.
Council has also pegged $150,000 for improvements and the installation of a columbarium at the cemetery south of town.
Additional focus areas for this year will include a mini pumper fire truck ($440,000, split 50/50 with the Municipality of Rhineland), and a new Public Works wheel loader ($212,000). The Rhineland Pioneer Centre and MEC will see improvements such as a generator, a new electric ice re-surfacer, a new floor cleaning machine, improved minor hockey storage, and new flooring for meeting rooms, offices, and the Curling Club lounge ($258,500). Gallery in the Park will get new siding and roof repairs ($120,000).
Long-term financial commitments will support economic growth like the Kiddie Sunshine Daycare project, the Industrial Park Expansion and tax incentive programs.
While inflation was certainly a factor in the budget planning process for this year, Siemens says they’re in a solid place financially.
“The biggest challenge will be paying for the industrial park. But we’ve been selling a lot of lots, so right now it’s more than paying for the debt that we’ll have to pay this year.
“The province also increased their grants, both for policing and general municipalities, so that is helpful as well. The police grant went up by over $100,000 last year. They hadn’t increased it for eight years so we are not quite caught up to where we think we should be, but at least it’s a start.”
In spite of increased expenses, council was still able to put $430,000 back into reserves.
“We’ve been increasing the amount we put into reserves over the last couple of years and are definitely making progress there,” Siemens says.
Siemens notes that council worked hard to keep the tax increase to a minimum.
“I think it’s going to be one of the lowest in the region. I credit good management from our staff. We try to be as efficient as possible. The economic growth we’ve been having, and the new construction has helped, for sure. We’re confident that things are looking good for the coming year.”
