With Council’s approval of the budget for the upcoming year, the Town has started looking into options that may be required to assist taxpayers in the coming months.
Bills will be coming out for both Water (end of March) and Property taxes (end of April). Typically, these invoices are due 30 days later. Senior Management will review options with Council that may include extending due dates, waiving interest on arrears for a period of time, and possible temporary reduction in interim tax bills (eg. 25%) as the Town and community begin to experience the economic impact of the COVID health protocols required by the province.
For Additional Information Contact:
Erin Beaudin, CAO - 902-599-2380 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
OR
Mike MacLean, Director of Financial Services - 902-670-2388 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wolfville, NS – Last night’s Council meeting was very different to the normal monthly Council Meetings. With concerns for people’s health and wellness of paramount importance, only essential attendees were there, people were spread out as much as possible in Council Chambers and the essential business was handled as efficiently as possible. That said, at the March 17, 2020, Town Council Meeting Wolfville's Council approved an operating budget totalling $11.2 million for the fiscal year 2020/21, with a capital investment plan of $6.32 million.
Mayor Cantwell commented:
“We, Council and the Senior Management Team, are fortunate, once again, to have had early discussions and three “Draft” versions of our Annual Budget vetted through Committee of the Whole already and the direction by Committee of the Whole to staff, that we are agreed and comfortable with a minimal tax increase of 0.9% for 84% of residential properties, (as opposed to COLA of 1.6%) while paying particular attention to the requests of our public. For example, sidewalks, trails, parking and the like. This is a relief with our new fiscal year about to get underway”.
Mike MacLean, Director of Finance commented that
“This year’s budget successfully continues Council’s direction over the past few years to ensure tax increases stay within the cost of living adjustment. Senior Management, through the direction of the Office of the CAO, will enter the upcoming year with a clear mandate on a number of priorities as well as the budgetary flexibility to address Town services during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
The Town’s Operating budget will continue to enhance Council priorities for the community.
In 2020/21 the Town will:
• Increase the Low Income Tax Exemption to $730, for those households not exceeding an income threshold of $28,000
• Continue to operationalize the priorities identified in the Town’s Accessibility Plan
• A further increase to the Grants to Organizations to cover additional one-time grant requests from outside organizations – a $100,000 increase over the last two budget years
• Dollars added to provide cost sharing to Acadia University for a Community Liaison position (dependent upon the University including the position in their upcoming budget)
• An additional $100,000 to the annual street maintenance budget
• Additions to the budget to improve winter maintenance of sidewalks, crosswalks and possibly bus shelters
• Major upgrades to the sanitary sewer treatment plan
• Budget dollars have been included to cover the second year of a two-year project to develop data and strategies around climate change
The 2020/21 Capital Budget is focused on the essential upgrading of the Town’s Sewer Treatment Plant. Dollars have also been approved to carry out upgrades at the Cenotaph Monument and the surrounding Post Office space, Reservoir Park, Evangeline Park and work will continue at the East End Gateway.
The complete 2020/21 Budget and Operations Plan will be available on the Town of Wolfville's website at www.wolfville.ca.
For Additional Information Contact:
Erin Beaudin, CAO - 902-599-2380
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Or
Mike MacLean, Director of Financial Service - 902-670-2388
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wolfville, NS – The Town of Wolfville is continuing to take steps to reduce the risks as much as possible for residents and staff. Senior staff are collaborating with other Municipalities in the region to ensure consistency where possible.
We will be re-evaluating on a continuous basis as new information becomes available.
Effective 4:30 pm on Monday, March 16th:
With all that has been taking place respecting Covid-19 (Corona virus) I want to assure everyone the town Leadership Team has been closely following the Provincial Medical Officer and their continuing setting of policy and protocols for dealing with this unprecedented pandemic.
Safe handling of your various services and programs has, and will continue to be foremost in staff’s mind when considering how these will be delivered. We must continue to make every attempt at containment and mitigation of the effects of the spreading of this virus to ensure all of our citizens, especially our most vulnerable, are not unwittingly put in an unsafe situation.
We will continue to keep you apprised of any updates and/or changes to our program and service delivery through various Town social media platforms, ie: twitter; facebook; instagram and our website <www.wolfville.ca>.
Jeff Cantwell
Mayor
Town of Wolfville
Update: Previously scheduled programming has been postponed for the time being. We hope to reschedule many of these activities as soon as possible.
https://www.wolfville.ca/after-school-programs-2.html#ASP
Public Information Meeting tonight from 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Location: Beveridge Arts Centre (Room 241), 10 Highland Avenue, Wolfville, NS
wolfville.ca/growing-together
Join our Senior Staff to have all your budget questions answered. 
Join us in Wolfville as we celebrate Nova Scotia's heritage and this year's honouree: Africville.
Click Here for more info on a full day of family fun on Monday, February 17th in Wolfville.
The Town of Wolfville is seeking proposals for Legal services. Interested parties are asked to contact the CAO, Erin Beaudin for the full RFP and any questions.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / Tel: 902-599-2380
Proposals will be accepted up to 2 pm, Friday February 28th, 2020.
