By Kevin Woodhouse
www.thesuburban.com
The town of Baie d’Urfé has estimated their agglomeration contribution for 2014 to go up 1.5 per cent, adding to the 72 cents out of every tax dollar collected in the small town that already goes directly to the city of Montreal’s coffers.
And despite the estimated agglo rise, council’s budget that was passed last week is expected to give single dwelling homeowners an overall rise in their tax rate at 0.7 percent.
“This is good news for citizens as we have a healthy surplus despite having to run our town on 28 percent of overall tax revenues,” Baie d’Urfé Mayor Maria Tutino told The Suburban.
Should the city of Montreal’s agglo expenses rise higher than the estimated 1.5 percent, Tutino said that the difference will “be made up by our surplus which started 2013 at $4.6 million and by year’s end was $5.1 million.”
Besides the miniscule tax increase for citizens, the city will be using some of the accumulated surplus for projects such as paving and drainage infrastructure improvements, a feasibility study for an outdoor hockey rink and chalet and the eventual expansion of city hall.
But before going ahead with the city hall’s renovations that are part of the city’s three-year capital program, “council will try to determine the most cost-effective way to meet the town’s needs,” said Tutino noting that “citizens’ input will be an important part of this discussion, and special information sessions will be held for this purpose.”
Baie d’Urfé’s evaluation for a single family home rose almost seven percent last year to $574,361 so the estimated tax increase for 2014 will be $25.68 although almost 10 per cent of all dwellings will see a decrease in their tax bill.
The town’s operating budget of almost $18 million is being reduced by $124,000 this year, bringing it back to 2011 levels, allowing the town to cover all of its expenses with about six and a half million dollars for its operating budget.
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