Modest tax increase for taxpayers in The Nation

Residents in The Nation will see a modest one-per-cent increase in their taxes this year.

In a unanimous decision, council recently adopted the 2011 budget after months of budget meetings and negotiations.

The Nation's total budget for 2011 will be $22.3 million, with $7.7 million set aside for various capital projects.

While taxes will increase by one per cent per $100,000 in average assessment, so too will the salaries of municipal employees.

The cost of garbage and recycling collection will increase from $175 to $180, while water in St-Isidore will increase from $1.35 per cubic metre to $1.42 per cubic metre.

In Limoges, water rates are fixed, but will increase from $252 to $265.

Sewer rates for the five villages in the municipality will increase to $385 from $375 as a result of operational costs.

When it comes to road work, the municipality will be able to begin some of the work outlined in its five-year plan for capital road work. This year, the municipality will focus on improving roads in Forest Park, St-Albert and Limoges.

Other expenditures approved by council include $3 million for expansion of the water treatment plant in Limoges; $1.1 million for the fire station in Limoges; $478,822 for the purchase of two new fire trucks for St-Bernardin and St-Albert and $613,000 to finance renovations and upgrades to the arena in St-Isidore.