(Unsplash photo)
Madawaska Valley Council has officially presented the 2025 budget, which includes several significant projects and rate adjustments for the year ahead. The total budget is set at $9,620,728, leading to a 2.5% increase in the property tax rate for local residents.
The 2025 budget features a number of key capital projects, such as gravel resurfacing on various township roads, the replacement of the office furnace, and an upgrade to the township’s website, along with related training. Other planned projects include designing an elevator for the Paul J. Yakabuskie Community Centre (PJYCC), repairing the Crooked Slide Park chute, assessing the structural condition of the wooden water tower, and installing a radio tower on Water Tower Hill to improve communication services.
For homeowners, the tax increase will mean an additional $74.87 annually for a typical single-family home (non-waterfront). This increase does not include the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) billing, which will add $211.91 to each property tax bill.
Other important changes in the budget include a withdrawal of $1,704,856 and an addition of $1,436,016 into municipal reserves. There will also be a 2.77% increase in curbside collection fees, a 5% hike in transfer station rates, a 4% rise in water rates, and a 3.95% increase in wastewater rates.
The budget process involved collaboration with township staff, planning for asset management, and input from council committees to address both immediate and long-term infrastructure needs.
(Written by: Emma Butler)