The Region of Queens has completed their budget process.
An operating budget of around $18.8-million has been approved.
A third of the total comes from costs handed down by the province, including a 3.6% increase for RCMP services.
Mayor Christopher Clarke says the hike was substantial but worth it in the end.
“We have a low crime rate in Queens,” he says, “and that’s due to the policing we have. So, how to you put a value on no crime. Two million dollars is certainly money well spent.”
Residential tax rates will go up three cents.
Commercial taxes will also see a five cent hike.
Clarke says it was unavoidable.
“Given the heavy lifting we had to do this year, we had no choice but to raise both the residential rate and the commercial rate.”
Along with the operational budget, another $5.3-million is going to capital projects.
The changes will take effect June 1st.
