Press Releases
Press Release - No Tax Rate Increases for Richmond County – Investments in Community and Growth
- Details
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.
– 30 –
Media Contact:
Warden Amanda Mombourquette
902-631-0690
Richmond County and Town of Port Hawkesbury Announce Manager of Energy Sector Development
- Details
PRESS RELEASE - March 22, 2024
For Immediate Release
Richmond County and Town of Port Hawkesbury Announce Manager of Energy Sector Development
RICHMOND COUNTY, NS - The Municipality of the County of Richmond, the Town of Port Hawkesbury, and the Cape Breton Partnership are proud to announce that Martin Thomsen will be the new Manager of Energy Sector Development for the two municipalities, made possible through a secondment from the Cape Breton Partnership.
As the Manager of Energy Sector Development, Thomsen will be responsible for the oversight of the strategic development of a Local Port and Infrastructure Strategy and an Offshore Wind Centre of Excellence. The role will engage with both existing and emerging industry partners and stakeholders to optimize local benefits in relation to the green energy sector.
This new three-year position will be shared jointly by both the Municipality of the County of Richmond and the Town of Port Hawkesbury and hosted administratively by the Municipality of the County of Richmond. The position is made possible with funding from both municipal partners, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.
Since January 2023 Thomsen has been part of the team at the Cape Breton Partnership, based in Richmond County and the Town of Port Hawkesbury in the role of Innovation and Economic Development Officer and has previously worked for Highlands and Islands Enterprise, a public-sector economic development agency in Scotland.
“I’m excited and humbled to embark on this new journey with Richmond County and the Town of Port Hawkesbury,” says Martin Thomsen. “Through my work with the Cape Breton Partnership I have become very familiar with the opportunity that the green energy sector represents for the Strait Area, and I’m looking forward to taking on this new challenge.”
“The Cape Breton Partnership is proud to support Martin in taking on this new exciting role with two of the Cape Breton Regional Enterprise Network’s partners to help pave the way for the green energy sector here on the Island,” says Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “We are thrilled to be able to provide this opportunity for career development and progression through this secondment, and are excited to be part of the collaborative efforts to continue building this industry in the Strait Area, and look forward to continue working with Martin and the rest of our partners on this exciting work.”
Martin Thomsen commences in the role on 2nd of April, while the Cape Breton Partnership will be advertising for a new Economic Development Officer for Richmond County and Port Hawkesbury shortly.
-END-
Media Contact:
Cape Breton Partnership
Jeremy Martell, Director of Communications
902-562-0122
Left to right: Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership, Martin Thomsen, Manager of Engery Sector Development, Troy MacCulloch, CAO, Municipality of the County of Richmond
Richmond County and St. Peter's Village Commission Hold First Ever Joint Public Meeting
- Details
PRESS RELEASE - November 14, 2023
For Immediate Release
Richmond County and St. Peter’s Village Commission Hold First Ever Joint Public Meeting
Arichat, NS – Early November marked a first for the Municipality of the County of Richmond and the Village of St. Peter’s with an official Joint Meeting between the two levels of government on November 2nd at Council Chambers in Arichat; the first time the two levels of government have formally met in public session.
The Village of St. Peter’s is a recognized municipal unit with elected Village Commissioners. They operate independently of the County and provide a variety of municipal services to residents within the Village area. Historically, the relationship between the Village and the County has been primarily limited to taxation collections and special projects.
“Building stronger relationships with other local governments is a priority for Municipal Council,” noted Warden Amanda Mombourquette. This work is part of the County’s larger effort to lead and engage stakeholders according to their Strategic Plan which was refreshed through community consultation last year.
The agenda included mutually agreed upon items related to special projects, capital projects, the Canada Community Building Fund, and asset management. All parties agreed that the discussion was productive and should be continued regularly in this public format.
“The Village of St. Peter’s is Richmond County’s most densely populated commercial, service, and retail centre,” explained Commissioner Esther MacDonnell, Chair of the Commission. “Residents from all areas of the County rely on us for everything from medical services to banking to groceries, she explained. Warden Mombourquette agreed, “It’s in the best interest of all residents that both levels of government plan for and invest in continuous improvement of the Village core area.”
The joint meeting was a first for the Municipal Council and the Village Commission in an effort to increase understanding and awareness of the opportunities and challenges faced by both parties. The agenda and draft minutes can be found at https://www.richmondcounty.ca and https://villageofstpeters.ca.
– 30 –
Media Contact:
|
Amanda Mobourquette Warden, Municipality of the County of Richmond 902-631-0690 |
Meghan Hayter Clerk, St. Peter’s Village Commission 902-535-2155 |
Left to right: Meghan Hayter, Village Clerk, Shelley David Municipal Clerk/Communications Officer, Warden Amanda Mombourquette, Pam Martell, Village Commissioner, Deputy Warden Shawn Samson, Esther MacDonnell, Chair of the Commission, Councillor Michael Diggdon, Donnie Mariner, Village Commissioner.
Photo Credit: Troy MacCulloch, CAO
No Tax Rate Increases for Richmond County – Investments in Community and Growth
- Details
For Immediate Release
Richmond County, NS – Richmond County Council approved its 2023/2024 budget at a Special Council meeting on June 1, 2023, resulting in no increases to either the residential or commercial tax rates. The budget comes in balanced at just over $16.8 million with strategic investments in communities, health, infrastructure and growth.
Richmond Municipal Council Prioritizes Communities of Interest in Boundary Review
- Details
For Immediate Release
Richmond County, NS – At a Special Council meeting on January 31st, Richmond Municipal Council chose communities of interest as a top priority in putting forward a recommendation to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (UARB). The unanimous recommendation to maintain a 5-member Council with minor changes to the boundaries of each district follows a period of public consultation and research that began in July 2022.
Richmond County Announces New CAO
- Details
For Immediate Release
Richmond County, NS – Richmond County Council announced on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, that they successfully recruited a new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to lead the County’s administrative operations.
Following a competitive, nationwide search led by human resources advisory firm, Gerald Walsh Associates, Council announced that Troy MacCulloch of Pincher Creek (formerly New Glasgow) will assume the position of CAO in August.