MUNICIPALITY OF CLARE ANNOUNCES BALANCED OPERATING BUDGET FOR 2020-2021

Little Brook, NS – April 29, 2020: In a year that will see the rolling out of a much-anticipated rural Internet project, the Municipality of Clare has announced a balanced operating budget of $9,570,630 for 2020-2021. Once again, there is no increase to the residential tax rate of $1.04 per $100 of assessment or the commercial tax rate of $2.07 per $100 of assessment.

This year, the Municipality, along with Mainland Telecom and the Province of Nova Scotia, will launch a $9.95-million high-speed Internet project, up to $2.45 million of which will be paid for by the Municipality with monies from the Federal Gas Tax Fund. In addition to this initiative, the Municipality will continue to invest in the community’s safety, health and heritage, as this year’s budget indicates.

The Municipality of Clare will contribute once more towards such protective services as the Security for Seniors program, as well as law enforcement, fire protection, Clare Emergency Management Organization (EMO), Clare Search and Rescue and building inspection services. This also marks the second year of a municipal strategy to replace aging fire trucks in Clare. A total of $2,429,605 (or 25% of total tax dollars) is slated for protective services in Clare.

The Clare Health Centre and the Municipality’s doctor recruitment strategy are two key essential public health services that continue to receive financial support from the Municipality of Clare. This year, $661,505 (or 7% of total tax dollars) will go towards the Municipality’s commitment to public health services in Clare.

The Municipality will also help fund several local projects aimed to preserve the heritage of the region and to promote community development through its Grants to Organizations program. Furthermore, pending the effects of the COVID-19 virus, the Municipality will continue to support such signature events as Festival acadien de Clare and Gran Fondo Sainte-Marie. The Congrès mondial acadien Organizing Committee will also receive funding from the Municipality as it begins to plan for the major cultural event in 2024. In all, $1,216,773 (or 13% of total tax dollars) will go towards community development.

Once more, the Municipality is committed to contributing to the quality of services to the community. It will help finance the Transport de Clare public transportation service. It will also continue offering its municipal services in English and in French to residents, businesses and visitors.

Property owners in Clare should expect to receive their tax bills in the mail in the upcoming days. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Municipality is pushing back its typical June 30 municipal tax deadline to July 31, 2020. Until September 30, 2020, the Municipality is also waiving interest fees on overdue payments for the 2020-2021 tax year.

Residents and business owners are asked pay their taxes by mailing a cheque, through most online financial institutions, by e-Transfer or by Visa or MasterCard (please note that a 1.75% service fee will be applied). For more information, please call the municipal office at (902) 769-2031.

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Settled in 1768 and incorporated in 1879, the Municipality of Clare is located at the southwestern tip of Nova Scotia with approximately 8,000 residents. The Municipality of Clare is the only municipality in the province that conducts business and offers services in both official languages, French and English.

Click here for a detailed overview of the 2020-2021 budget.
Click here for an overview of how your tax dollars are spent in Clare.
Click here for Grants to Organizations recipients for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

Media Contact / Interviews:

Stéphane Cyr
Chief Administrative Officer
Municipality of Clare
902-769-2031

Ronnie LeBlanc
Warden
Municipality of Clare
902-769-2031