The Municipal District of St. Stephen (MDSS) is holding its tax rates amid the ongoing property assessment freeze throughout New Brunswick.
Rates will remain at 1.5561 per $100 of assessment for Ward 2 – or the urban area of St. Stephen – and 0.5597 per $100 of assessment for the rural wards. The rural wards are also charged a Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) fee of about 0.41 per $100 of assessment.
It comes amid a province-wide property assessment freeze by the provincial government for 2026. Property assessment accounts for about 83 per cent of a local government’s funding, with the remaining coming from unconditional grants.
“I like the idea of holding the tax rate and putting most of it in reserves,” said Coun. Wade Greenlaw.
Local governments are not allowed to run surpluses on the budgets; all money must be allocated. As well, local governments are not required to do a capital budget, but some do.
“I’m also in favour of holding the tax rates steady and transferring them into reserves,” said Coun. Joyce Wright.
The council can take the money it sets aside for reserves to be used down the line on other projects or needs of the community.
Greenlaw said that with a lot of unpredictability, having money in the reserve might be a good thing.
“Part of the reason I want to leave it there [in reserves] is that we don’t know what the property assessment revision is going to do,” he said. “It’s nice to have a little bit of reserves there because that could take us either way.”
The capital budget does focus on infrastructure upgrades, including $5.1 million allocated for paving various roads and streets within Ward 2. Renaud told the council it would be done through the Municipal Capital Borrowing Board (MCBB).
It has also taken the opportunity to purchase a new lift station – a system used to lift wastewater to a higher level when gravity isn’t enough – that has fallen into significant disrepair.
The municipality is expected to spend $1.5 million to do the replacement.
According to Renaud, the community is on the provincial government’s radar for infrastructure in its water and sewer system.
“Through quiet conversations, they said they need to see a plan,” Renaud told the council last week. “They’re willing to help, but they need to see a plan. So, we have started that work with our engineering firm.”
The council approved setting aside funds to undertake work engaging with the federal and provincial governments on the long-term sustainability of the utility, and for the issues that may arise in the interim.
Additionally, it plans to purchase new self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA units) for the fire department at a cost of $150,000, alongside four sets of bunker gear for $15,000. Council has also approved the purchase of a dehumidifier for the Garcelon Civic Centre (GCC).
Council has also approved a new roof for a municipal building at 199 Union Street for $350,000 and about $40,000 for solar lights along the waterfront trail.
The council of MDSS unanimously supported the budget for 2026.
