3.8% increase in property tax in Mont-Joli
It will now cost owners of Mont-Joli just under $1.22 per $100 of assessment. According to the City, this is a rate similar to the frozen rate that prevailed from 2018 to 2021.
This increase represents an increase of about $95, or about $8 per month, for the owner of an average Mont-Jolienne residence increased to $147,000. The average tax bill now stands at $2,595.
This increase is due in particular to the increase in costs for the management of residual materials, the increase in energy costs, including fuel, and maintenance costs, which are necessary for the water supply and sewer network. .
Despite the higher expenses for the City, the increase in the property tax bill remains below the inflation mark, while the Consumer Price Index rose to 6.9% last October in Canada.
The mayor of Mont-Joli, Martin Soucy, describes this budget as prudent
. He salutes the colossal work carried out by the administration and the municipal council to limit the increase in property tax.
” We are aware of the needs of our fellow citizens. On projects of the size they want to have, but 2023 is not the right year because of the economic uncertainty that we will experience. »
The City wanted to be very careful in its choices. So we have to postpone capital projects that were probably planned for 2023. We are talking, among other things, about outdoor skating rinks. We are talking about major road repair work. Leisure projects also that we must keep in our boxes, that we cannot take out
continues the mayor.
At just over $14 million, the budget is up by more than 4% compared to the previous year.
To balance this budget, the City indicates that it took $200,000 from its cleared surplus. This reserve must reach $800,000 at the end of the year. It normally makes it possible to deal with unforeseen events and to plan certain projects.
The mayor of Mont-Joli, Martin Soucy, also specifies that certain planned investments must be postponed to avoid overtaxing the residents of the city.
Adoption of a three-year fixed assets program of $12.6 million
Investments of $12.6 million are planned for 2023, 2024 and 2025 in Mont-Joli, including only $8 million for 2023.
Of this amount, $5.77 million will be invested in the repair of certain streets, including Ménard, Villeneuve, Benoit-Quimper, Route Tardif and the portion of Rang des Bouleaux that is located on City territory.
Mont-Joli received government assistance of $4.2 million to complete this work.
An amount of approximately $320,000 will be disbursed to acquire new street furniture and game modules for Richelieu and Ruisseau Lebrun parks.
Improvements to the filtration plant and pumping station on Chemin de Price are also planned for an amount of approximately $200,000.
A sum of $150,000 must be spent to extend the sidewalk from Jacques-Cartier Boulevard to the northern entrance to the city, near the roundabout.
An amount of $125,000 is distributed to the fight against the Eurasian watermilfoil at Lac du Gros Ruisseau. This sum must be used to jointly acquire equipment with the Municipality of Saint-Joseph-de-Lepage to fight against this invasive plant. In its budget, the City of Mont-Joli notes, however, that the realization of this project is conditional to a government subsidy.
Debt reduction
Mont-Joli’s debt has shrunk in the last year with a decrease of 7.4% compared to the previous year when it amounted to $11.8 million. It now stands at $11 million.
Martin Soucy believes that the City’s finances are doing well.
We create envy on that side because we are still doing well. On a good financial sheet
he says.