Wolfville sets it rate

BY WENDY ELLIOTT

Kings County Register

After extra intense deliberations this year, Wolfville approved June 22 a new tax rate of $1.40 per $100 of residential assessment.

This year marks the fifth consecutive year the residential rate has declined. The commercial tax rate was established at $3.49.

The budget for 2009/ 2010 was set at $7,091,487.

Budget motion was moved by councillors Bill Zimmerman and Jim Laceby. Councillor Keith Irving was the only negative vote. Irving had, at the eleventh hour, suggested further budget additions and deletions, but failed to convince fellow council members of the merit of his suggestions.

This is about as good as the town can do this year, commented Laceby. “We’ve had input from citizens, those in the room and others. Now, we have to start to set the course for next year because we heard loud and clear during election that we need a better handle on financial responsibility.”

Zimmerman suggested council rethink the budget process and, with staff guidance, establish priorities. Once the process is in place council can proceed to come up with the tightest possible budget, he said.

Council also approved a three-year capital budget of $1,697,265 and a three-year commitment that was carefully worded to attempt to support the hospice and hospital foundations. Discussion led to an approval that will only last through the current council’s mandate. Spending of $114,533 by 2015 on healthcare was unanimously supported.

Mayor Bob Stead commented budget work began in November and had taken approximately eight months. “In five months, it will start again. All of us are committed to make the best use of the money committed to us.”

Speaking of disparagement by a few citizens, Stead added he is not prepared to change the character of the town without sufficiently good reason.

Laceby extended thanks to town staff. Irving said he was looking forward to more time in dialogue with the community.

Deputy Mayor Hugh Simpson said Rome isn’t built in a day and reorganization will be an on-going thing. He is hopeful “the sustainability committee will help work out what objectives we have for this coming year.”

In 2008, the residential tax reduced by three cents to $1.41. The total operating budget last year was $7,081,967.