Municipal District of St. Stephen Begins 2025 Budget Deliberations

The Special Committee of the Whole of the Municipal District of St. Stephen convened on October 22, 2024 to launch discussions on the 2025 municipal budget. Held in the Moosehead Room of the Garcelon Civic Centre, the meeting marked the beginning of a detailed examination of the district's financial future, focusing initially on revenue sources.

Florence Mitchell – Local Journalism Initiative

"We're here to start our discussions around the development of the 2025 budget, specifically focusing at this point on the operating budget," began Chief Administrative Officer Jeff Renaud, setting the stage for an in-depth review of the district's financial standing.

The meeting covered a broad array of topics, from property taxes to grants and internal revenue strategies. Property taxes, which constitute 67% of the district's revenue, were highlighted as a major component. "We're heavily, heavily reliant on property tax until municipal reform gives us some new fiscal tools," noted Renaud, highlighting the district's current financial dependencies.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the uncertainties surrounding property assessments, a topic of concern for many community members. Councillor Wade Greenlaw pointed out the need for clarity, asking, "Do they actually share publicly really how they determine their assessed values?" This prompted a discussion about the Government of New Brunswick's role in property assessments, with Renaud offering that "GNB actually has a really good website that tries to explain their processes."

The committee also discussed the district's own-source revenue strategies, including sales of services and municipal fines. "We don't have a budget for municipal fines. We use a philosophy that by-laws are there to get compliance, not to generate revenue," Renaud explained, emphasizing the district's focus on compliance over profit from fines.

The conversation then shifted to the district's reserves and the importance of maintaining a financial buffer for unexpected expenses. "Reserves are the safety net for everything," stated Renaud, pointing out that while immediate infrastructure needs must be addressed, having funds in reserve is crucial for long-term stability.

A significant challenge discussed was the aging infrastructure and the need for prioritizing projects. "The biggest challenge... is the infrastructure deficit," said Renaud, alluding to the need for balance between new developments and essential infrastructure maintenance.

Looking towards the future, Renaud expressed optimism about the budgeting process, stating, "I'm actually quite excited about the new model of consistent dialogue around the budget development, as opposed to us building it in the black box."