Municipal councillors in Antigonish Co. have held the line on one tax rate, and lowered another.
They approved their 2021-22 budget at a special meeting Tuesday night.
The residential rate remains steady at $0.88/$100 of assessment; the commercial rate drops two cents to $1.44/$100 of assessment.
After the meeting, Owen McCarron, Antigonish Co.’s warden, said lowering the commercial rate doesn’t hurt their bottom line.
“We finished our year strong,” he said. “Because of the safe re-start money, which was federal money, that came into us back in November, we ended up with a surplus in the county.”
McCarron said they’ve held the line on the residential tax rate for 13 years in a row.
He said they’re proud to have the lowest commercial tax rate in the province.
“By continuing to keep our eye on that rate and making little adjustments, we’re trying to send a message to the business community that Antigonish Co. is open for business,” he said. “We value that business, and certainly want to ensure that our rate is competitive and attractive to potential businesses looking to set up in a new community.”
McCarron said business owners have had their challenges throughout the pandemic, and lowering the commercial tax rate was their chance to help out in some small way.
The municipality’s overall operating budget is $16.3 million, while the capital budget is $3.3 million.
