The town of Shelburne has conquered half of their 2016-17 budget.
The town approved a $3.9-million operating budget, including no tax increases for residents or businesses.
It means the residential rate stays at $2.04 and the commercial is $3.86 per 100 of assessment.
Mayor Karen Mattatall says the budget also includes a $200 tax break for families earning less than $25,000.
“Certainly it is very helpful to the people who need it the most. We all, of course, would like lower taxes but that can’t always happen so if we can help people who need it the most, it’s a good thing.”
However, it wasn’t all positive news.
Mattatall says policing costs continue to rise and now accumulate almost 38 per cent of their budget.
“That’s over $400 per resident and we have no way to manage that. We’re told what we have to pay.”
Discussion on the capital budget is expected to begin next week.
