Municipal Council adopts a balanced budget with a focus on climate change

At a special meeting held on Tuesday, December 17, Municipal Council adopted its operating budget for 2020.

 

Official press release

Discours de la mairesse (translation to come)

 

A balanced budget of $ 19.8 million

 

Tax increase of 3.4% caused by, among other things:

• The NCC’s valuation challenge, which creates more than $560,000 of uncertainty in PILT revenues, plus the $54 000 legal and evaluation fees to be assumed by the Municipality
• The $255,829 increase in the share paid to the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais, mainly due to the unexpected increase in fees for the processing of recyclable materials and fees for adapted and public transit.
• The increase of more than 50% in snow removal contracts awarded throughout Quebec
• Preventive slope stabilization work along Chelsea Creek (75% subsidized by the Government of Quebec)

 

Tax rate 2020

• $0,7933 per $100 for residential evaluation
• $1,1209 per $100 for non-residential evaluation

 

 

Concretely, this means an increase of $108 for a median property valued at $415 000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water and sewer system cost increase inevitable

 

Centre-village

The cost of the water and sewer system for the centre-village this year is close to the forecasts made at the beginning of the infrastructure project. The variance from previous years is explained by the increase in operations and maintenance expenses, which vary according to the number of homes and businesses connected to the network.

 

Water filtration plant

• Purchase of two membrane banks to optimize production flow and reduce water losses
• Replacement of parts for dosing pumps to avoid variances in the addition of chemicals
• Replacement of UV lamps and probes to ensure drinking water quality
• Addition of professional fees to carry out the vulnerability analysis requested by the Ministère de l’Environment

 

Wastewater treatment plant

• Replacement of UV lamps to ensure compliance with environmental standards
• Replacement of lifting chains for the efficiency and safety of workers

 

Farm point

The increase for the Farm Point area is due to the need to empty aerated wastewater treatment tanks, a procedure carried out every seven to eight years to ensure water quality at the tank outlets.