After years of mill rate reductions and freezes, Dauphin residents will see an increase in their property tax bills for 2023.
Dauphin city council passed the 2023 financial plan at a special meeting, May 11, which will see the mill rate rise from 18.332, which raised $6,382,457 in 2022, to 18.937 this year, which will raise $6,827,186, representing a 6.3 per cent increase.
“It became apparent very early in the 2023 deliberation process that we could no longer provide the same level of service without needing to raise some taxes,” Mayor David Bosiak said. “So therefore for 2023 there will be a 6.3 per cent Municipal tax increase or a 3.3 per cent increase in the mill rate in order to continue to provide a consistent, if not better level of service to our residents. So those were some decisions and discussions that we’ve had to get to this particular point and I think that we’ve balanced both a need for generating revenues to support our operations and also to hold the line as best we can on, I’ll call it frivolous or any spending that is not absolutely necessary for us as a community.”
The plan also includes increased income from grants in lieu of taxes and “other” revenue for a total revenue/expenditure balance of $13,295,966.
On the expenditure side of the ledger, General Government Services will see an increase in its budget to $1,433,111 from the $1.389 million budgetted in 2022. That represents a 4.19 per cent increase driven mainly by regular staff wage increases and in-person conferences and training, community grants and appropriations of $58,000 and a Dauphin Regional Airport Authority subsidy of $98,000.
The Protective Services budget will see a six per cent overall increase to $3,754,132 in 2023, mainly due to increased RCMP costs resulting from retroactive unionization costs and wage increases. Other areas covered under the budget category include fire, emergency measures, building inspection, animal control, insect control and bylaw enforcement.
Transportation Services expenditures will increase by 7.58 per cent for 2023 to $1,945,576. The budget category includes administration and operating costs for Public Works and engineering, such as maintenance of curbs and gutters, lanes and roads, as well as general pavement repairs, crack sealing, sidewalk repairs, drainage maintenance, mowing, street cleaning, snow and ice removal, bridge maintenance, street lighting and signage.
Environmental Health will also see a slight increase of 1.64 per cent to a total of $1,030,239 to cover operations such as collection of garbage, yard waste and recycling, as well as maintenance and operation of the waste disposal grounds. Plans are to purchase more garbage and yard waste bins.
Public Health and Welfare Services again remains unchanged at $33,749 as the category consists entirely of a one-tier social assistance payment to the Province.
Environmental Development Services sees a decrease of 24.35 per cent to $222,407 as the Development Plan review nears completion. Other areas covered under the budget category include Dutch Elm Disease tree removal, Communities in Bloom, weed control and city events, such as parades and Remembrance Day services.
The Economic Development Services budget, which fluctuates depending on development, will see a sizeable increase of 30.39 per cent to $525,733 for 2023. Areas covered by the increase include economic development incentives programs for residential and commercial developments, tipping fees, spec homes and operation of the Dauphin Business Park. The category also includes Tourism related costs such as the Adventure Guide and place branding program, as well as merchandise costs, displays, the City’s website and photography and ideography expenses. Other areas include Tourism
Accommodation Tax Project and the Veterinary Services Board appropriation.
Recreation and Cultural Services will also see an increase, 7.93 per cent overall, to a total of $2,164,866. While over 86 per cent of that budget consists of operating funds for Dauphin Recreation Services, the money also includes appropriations for other facilities, such as the Watson Arts Centre, Fort Dauphin Museum, the Dauphin Rail Museum and the library. Also included is money for the Community Band and the Community Jazz Band.
Fiscal Services, which outlines capital expenditures and reserve transfers totals $13,994,146 in 2023 about $650,000 more in capital spending and transfers. Also included is the City’s portion of the Main Street South twinning project, which involves $8.15 million in borrowing.
Utility Fund
Income in the utility ledger will decrease in 2023 due mainly to less in the way of Provincial grants to $3,660,006.
The bulk of that income will come through residential water sales budgeted at just over $2.3 million and sewer service charges totalling $663,273.
On the expenditure side, operation and maintenance of the water supply system accounts for the majority of expenses at just over $2 million while sewage collection and disposal accounts for another $415,145. There is also $863,026 in capital work planned, transfers to reserves in the amount of $250,000 and $83,517 in debenture debt charges.
