Tax hike coming for non-residents of Cornwall, P.E.I.; utilities also going up as equalization decreases
CORNWALL, P.E.I. — Residents will see a rise of their water and sewage payments this 12 months, whereas non-resident property house owners can even pay extra in taxes.
Cornwall handed its capital, working and utility budgets on April 20, Shelley Rector, Cornwall’s supervisor of company providers and deputy chief administrative officer, advised SaltWire on Could 3.
Whereas Rector wasn’t concerned within the decision-making round tax will increase and couldn’t clarify council’s reasoning, she did say the will increase are small.
“There’s non-resident, individual or company (charges). After which there’s resorts and motels, after which there’s condo buildings. So there’s three completely different classes. … Within the first class, it went from $0.92 to $1. Within the second class it went from $1.12 to $1.32, and within the third class it went from $1.12 to $1.32.”
This could usher in between $18,000 and $20,000 in further income, Rector mentioned.
Extra income can even come from charges going up for water, sewer and metering.
“It’s a ten per cent enhance (for sewer), and the distinction is $6.65 per quarter. We’ve performed a 5 per cent enhance on our water, which is $3.55 per quarter. So collectively meaning the payments will go up $10.20 per quarter, which is $40.80 for the 12 months.”
The final utility will increase have been in 2017. The city was supposed to boost charges in 2018, however determined to do a research as an alternative, Rector mentioned.
“One of many charge research indicated we needs to be rising by 20 per cent. Council determined to solely enhance by the ten and 5 per cent (charges) this 12 months.”
Whereas ambulance providers are provincial, the city has a contract with Queens District RCMP for policing, and that charge goes up, too, Rector mentioned.
“We have now will increase from their contract negotiation, so it’s going to enhance our value this 12 months as a result of they’ll have a rise of their value.”
This comes alongside a lower in provincial equalization funds. The city is getting much less cash from the province as a result of it’s rising and changing into extra unbiased, Rector mentioned.
All advised, the City expects a tiny surplus for the 12 months, she mentioned.
“The City of Cornwall working finances had revenues of $4,587,136 … and expenditures of $4,587,051.55.”
Logan MacLean is a municipal reporter with SaltWire Community.
