Oxford Holds Tax Rate with $2.4 Million Budget
The Town of Oxford approved its budget ($2,437,675.) for the next fiscal year, and with cuts to some departments, it comes in only slightly higher than last year’s budget, an increase of about $26-thousand-dollars.
Residential and Commercial tax rates are holding steady at $1.6874 and $4.1557 respectively.
Mayor Greg Henley said council’s concern was to not increase the burden on low-income households and seniors.
In deliberations between staff and councillors over the past week, Oxford decided to take an anticipated $60-thousand-dollars in money shaved from Public Works and the Fire Department budgets, split into two equal contingency funds for those departments, with an eye to have it as a surplus a year from now that could be added to the Capital Reserve.
At Monday night’s town council meeting, Senior Accountant RuthAnn Brookins reported a deficit of some $30-thousand-dollars after tallying-up all of the previous year’s expenses.
Councillors approved a motion to cover that deficit with the contingency, leaving $28-thousand-dollars to split between Fire and Public Works.... again, with the hope that that will be added to the Capital Reserve next year. The budget passed on Monday designates $50-thousand for the Capital Reserve this year, as the town works to replenish its coffers in anticipation of future infrastructure projects.
Mayor Henley addressed viewers of the meeting, broadcast on social media, explaining that this year’s budget is focused on rebuilding the Capital Reserve. He says when planning for future provincial or federal "cost-share projects: if we look like we can’t pay our share, we get no funding. It is imperative that we rebuild those reserves.”
Again in 2021–22, the town is not budgeting for labour at the town’s arena. Instead, they will depend on a local community group to operate the facility next fall and winter. While no formal arrangement has been reached, Councillor Paul Jones noted that discussions were well-underway.
On the bright side, the town’s new internal organization, which sees councillors oversee various aspects of the town’s operation, means that despite not having a recreation director, this should be an active summer. The town’s recreation commission, headed by Councillor Chrystal MacNutt, is planning many activities to keep local residents — and particularly their children — outside and engaged. MacNutt noted that local residents have already made a great effort with the Earth Day cleanup, collecting a considerable amount of garbage from community spaces.
MacNutt also highlighted an ‘amazing’ outpouring of donations and volunteer support for efforts to improve local recreation facilities, particularly the ballfield, and efforts are underway to raise money for new nets for a hoped-for summer soccer programme.
Work is already underway at the ballfield thanks to generous community donations of materials and labour.
Landscaping the infield will improve play and help control flooding. Organizers hope the improvements will allow older players to compete in the Bluenose League.
Improvements are also being done on the backfield, to accommodate this year's higher than usual registration for t-ball and rookie league.
Feeling optimistic that social distancing restrictions will be relaxed, the town also plans to hold summer camps for kids this year.
Still to be determined are the water and sewer rates for the next budget year, as the Oxford Water Utility operates as a separate entity. With an unexpected debt to complete the Duke Street water main project last year, and this being the scheduled year for an assessment by the Utility Review Board, it is likely those rates will rise.
Photo courtesy of Rachel MacNutt.
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