Berwick barely balancing for tax year ahead

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

For a budget “that didn’t look that good when we began,” Berwick Councillor Mike Trinacty congratulated staff and fellow councillors for getting a tax rate passed June 9 with as little impact as possible for taxpayers.

With $161,500 in revenue lost from 2007/ 2008 to 2008/ 2009, the town had a lot of ground to make up - and accommodate a $51,000 (1.49 per cent) increase in spending.

“That’s relatively small when you’re talking about a $3 million budget,” said town accountant Mike MacLean.

MacLean warned, though, capital saving is not keeping up with the town’s policy - council even made further cuts to the capital budget it had passed in May and decreased planned savings in its final operating budget; and said “anything we have left over, we need to look at buffering fuel costs.” Berwick dipped into its savings by $27,000, and planned for a five per cent increase in RCMP costs - “and we hope that’s enough,” MacLean said. Final figures were not yet in.

Berwick also expects a 2007/ 2008 deficit of around $6,800. This hasn’t been budgeted for, and will have to be covered before 2008/ 2009 spending.

Tax facts

• Residential rate: $1.585/ $100 of assessment

• Commercial rate: $3.40/ $100 of assessment

• Sewer levy: 11 cents/ $100 of assessment (residential and commercial)