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Property tax rates unchanged in Bridgewater’s 2022-23 budget

Bridgewater, NS, Canada / CKBW
Apr 12, 2022 | 7:00 AM


Property tax rates unchanged in Bridgewater's 2022-23 budget

The LaHave Floating Fountain in Bridgewater, NS. Photo: Town of Bridgewater/Twitter

Municipal councillors in the Town of Bridgewater have passed their 2022-23 budget.

The new fiscal blueprint will see residential and commercial property tax rates untouched, keeping the residential rate at $1.75$/$100 of assessment and the commercial tax rate $3.97/$100 of assessment.

Both the operating and capital budgets were unanimously approved during a council meeting Monday night.

Wastewater rates in town will be going up five per cent as part of the approved budget, with council noting that any extra revenue generated will be set in reserve for future wastewater capital projects. 

The town’s 2022-23 operating budget came in at $25.9 million; the $26 million capital budget is the largest single-year capital investment in Bridgewater’s history.

Some of the big ticket capital items in the budget include: 

  • $5 million for wastewater infrastructure to support residential and business growth, improved health of the LaHave River. 
  • $4 million for road upgrades, including infrastructure renewal projects on High Street and St. Phillips Street and $800,000 for pavement revamping throughout town. 
  • $3.6 million for infrastructure work at the land surrounding the new exit 12A on Highway 103 and the Bridgewater Business Park.
  • $230,000 for Bridgewater Memorial Arena, with renovations scheduled to take place this year in the second-floor Auditorium. Additional renovations will also take place on the main floor stemming from the planned removal of the Annex, while roof repairs for the building will be carried over from 21-22 and completed this spring.

This budget also includes $1.5 million allocated for Fire Protection; $4 million net for Bridgewater Police; $31,458 for the Regional Emergency Management Organization. 

Some other investments aimed at improving the quality of life in town include a pilot project to do winter maintenance on some trails in town and investments in the wintertime sidewalk clearing program. Council is also supporting non-profit organizations in the community and the work they do with $29,000 in direct investments through grants and about $100,000 in indirect support through property tax exemptions.