Town of Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Wolfville's Town Council approved an operating budget totalling $7.6 million and a capital budget of $2.27 million at the May 16, 2011 regular Council Meeting.  The approved residential tax rate of $1.43 per $100 of assessment is unchanged from last year and increases property taxes of residential capped properties by 2.9%.

The Commercial Tax rate decreased by two cents which brings the rate to $3.55.  On average this translates into an average increase of 1.3% to the commecial sector.

Council was pleased to maintain contributions to local community groups and organizations for the important work that they do,  The budget also maintains outstanding commitments to Valley Health Hospital & Hospice Foundation and the Wolfville Historial Society.  In areas where commitments were complete (e.g. Wolfville School playground), dollars were reallocated to capital project funding.  This begins the process of addressing recommendations coming out of the Fiscal Sustainability Task Force Report.  Increased capacity for the capital program was the single largest area of change in the 2011/12 Budget, adding $173,000 (19%) towards current and future projects.

This year's process continued Council's efforts to provide opportunity for public input, based on the previous year's approach.  Council will continue to seek public input as it moves forward with plans to develop a ten year capital plan that will help address aging infrastructure within the Town.

The complete budget can be viewed on the Town of Wolfville's website at www.wolfville.ca.  For more information contact Mike MacLean, Director of Financial Services at (902) 542-4501.