The Municipality of Argyle passed their budgets last week.
The municipality revealed that both tax rates would climb by two cents. Residential is now $1.11 per $100 of assessment and commercial rates are $2.27 to $2.29 per $100 of assessment.
Warden Danny Muise explains why taxes were raised.
“We need to raise taxes because of the rising cost of the operations,” said Muise. “We had the policing costs go up almost five percent, education and housing has gone up about $47,000 and fire services has gone up. Their insurance has really skyrocketed this year.”
The total operating revenues and expenses was approved at $9,125,900.
For the Capital budget, the total Federal Gas tax fund expenses is expected to reach $1,339,000. Priorities include the third and final COMFIT solar project in East Pubnico, Rural broadband and work on the administrative building project.
Muise explains why the tax fund is important.
“We’re building a net zero building and by doing that we were able to use a big portion of our gas tax,” said Muise. “If we hadn’t gone net zero we wouldn’t have been able to use that gas tax. Also we were able to get almost $500,000 in grants from the federal government as well.”
The fire and utilities budgets was also passed, as well as the various area rates.
