Town of Yarmouth passes budget

By Michael Gorman

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

Yarmouth town council approved a $15.4 million budget last night that finance committee chair Martin Pink said positions the town well for the future.

The town's residential tax rate was set at $1.81 per $100 of assessment while the commercial rate comes in at $3.98 per $100 of assessment. Although these rates are consistent with last year, rising assessment costs could mean a higher tax bill for some people.

Pink said the budget addresses two main themes that will pose challenges for the town as it moves ahead: the environment and economic development.

With respect to the environment, Pink said that while the town is making positive changes that would have long-lasting impacts towards the future, those changes come at a price in the short term. For every $20,000 they add to the public transit budget and $100,000 towards an improved contaminated soil site, there is $1 million that must go towards the closure of the former landfill and increased costs for solid waste pickup.

Energy costs for the town total more than $1 million and later this year the town will conduct a systematic energy emission inventory of key operations in hopes of making major energy-saving changes.

With respect to economic development, Pink said the strides the town is making with respect to doctor recruitment and retention through the mentoring program at the hospital as well as the shared practice in the downtown have gone a long way to improving the area's prospects for attracting new developments.

The town will also make yet another significant investment in tourism, this year to the total tune of $200,000 as they try to find ways to improve what was once a booming — and is now a struggling — industry.

And of course, what area budget would be complete with respect to economic development without money for the Yarmouth airport? The town's share of that expense this year is $152,000. Pink said he continues to believe in the work of the airport committee and believes good things are on the horizon.

"Our optimism is growing that we will see the reemergence of regular passenger service from the Yarmouth airport," he said in his address to council.

The budget presents an operational surplus of $299,000; not a lot of breathing room, noted Pink, but enough to do what was needed for the year without making concessions.

"We budgeted for lots of stuff," said Pink, "and all of those things are still in the works.

"Overall, our fiscal house is in order," said Pink. "We are addressing issues of concern to the community and maintaining a regular amount of services."

The following are some of the expense highlights from the town of Yarmouth's budget, which was approved at the last regular meeting:

Total budget — $15,426,901

Operation surplus — $299,000

Total to run RCMP — $1.855 million ($1.56 million for contracts)

Total for fire services — $2.159 million

Mayor's stipend — $30,182

Total stipend for six councillors — $113,376

Grants to organizations — $80,000

Snow removal — $95,000

Sidewalks — $275,000

Roads — $410,000

Public Transit (Hut's) — $60,000 (up from $40,000)

Waterfront development — $150,000

Airport grant — $152,000

Medical clinic — $35,000

Recreation and Culture — $694,368

YMCA — $44,000

Tourism total — $200,000

South West Shore Development Authority — $70,500