News & Announcements
NS Utility Review Board Decision & Order for proposed water rate increase
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- Category: Announcements (Public Works)
Please visit: https://www.richmondcounty.ca/municipal-water.html to see the new rates and regulations.
Press Release - No Tax Rate Increases for Richmond County – Investments in Community and Growth
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- Category: Press Releases
June 19, 2024
For Immediate Release
No Tax Rate Increases for Richmond County – Investments in Community and Growth
Richmond County, NS – Richmond County Council approved its 2024/2025 budget at a Special Council meeting on June 13, 2024, resulting in no increases to either the residential or commercial tax rates. The budget comes in balanced at just over $17.4 million with strategic investments in communities, health, environment, and infrastructure.
Highlights of the budget include funds for community grants to support local projects, landfill investment to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, and planning for future improvements in cellular coverage. Council has made further investments with regards to Public Works to prepare our water and sewer systems to function well in the face of increasing climate volatility.
Of the $17.4 million budget, just over $5.4 million (31.3%) are mandatory costs for things like policing, education, and valuation services. Policing and education jumped over $365,000 last year alone. On a budget that generates approximately $104,500 in revenue for every one cent of tax charged, the pressure created by these expenses which Council must pay to the province was offset by cost savings realized through the revised service exchange agreement with the province and the increase in property values over the last year.
Richmond County’s 2024/25 budget will be good news for many community groups who contribute hundreds of volunteer hours each year to their communities as the grants and contributions program has been slightly increased and will be open for applications throughout the year. The budget also includes significant investment in healthcare on items such as Physician Recruitment, Seniors Safety and Social Inclusion, the Cape Breton Regional Cancer Centre, and Hospital Foundations.
“Although Richmond County continues to have one of the lowest tax rates in the province, we recognize that the increase in assessment values, combined with other inflationary costs, are creating an affordability challenge for many of our residents; so Councillors unanimously agreed that a tax rate increase was not possible this year,” explained Warden Amanda Mombourquette. She further noted that “Health and wellness must continue to be a focus to ensure that our residents have access to affordable programs and services. We also felt it was a priority to continue to make funds available for community grant applications so we can fund projects that improve our quality of life and to enable groups to leverage funding from other sources.”
For detailed budget information, visit www.richmondcounty.ca.
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Media Contact:
Warden Amanda Mombourquette
902-631-0690
Municipal Campaign School - Registrations is now open!
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- Category: News & Announcements
Campaign School
The Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing along with their partners, the Status of Women Office and Sea Change Co Lab, is excited to announce that registration is now live for 3 interactive, in-person municipal campaign schools. Nova Scotians from underrepresented communities are encouraged to participate!
Workshop Details:
During the workshops, participants will:
- hear from diverse local councillors about the realities of the work,
- gain knowledge on getting nominated, building your team, fundraising, and running a campaign,
- practice networking, clear communication and planning next steps, and
- identify supports and resources available to potential candidates.
Participants can be reimbursed for childcare (up to $25 an hour for 6 hours). Reimbursement claim forms will be provided before the event.
Dates & Locations:
- June 15 - Sydney - Eltuek Arts Centre
- June 22 - Truro - Rath Eastlink Community Centre & Online
- July 13 - Shelburne - Shelburne Community Centre
All workshops will be held between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Online Registration
Municipal Campaign School Registration Form- Simple Forms service - Government of Nova Scotia
Contact
Province announces that daily burn restrictions also apply to campgrounds and the fine for violation has increased.
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- Category: News & Announcements
With the warmer weather and camping season underway, the Municipality of the County of Richmond wishes to remind residents to check the "Daily Burn Restrictions" by visiting https://novascotia.ca/burnsafe/ or by calling 1-855-564-2876 (BURN)
On May 16th, the Province announced an increase in the fine for violating the daily burn restrictions to $25,000 for this wildfire season AND daily burn restrictions apply to provincial, municipal and private campgrounds this wildfire season. That means open fires (like campfires) are not allowed from 8 am to 2 pm.
Devices like gas stoves and charcoal briquette barbeques can be used anytime, following manufacturer’s instructions.
These changes are in effect via a proclamation under the Forests Act: https://novascotia.ca/.../fire-proclamation_2024-05-15.pdf
You can see the news release here: https://news.novascotia.ca/.../large-increase-fine...
Learn more about campfire safety: https://novascotia.ca/campfire-safety/