News Archive
Town Budget Update - August 3, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Service Areas Reduced
Middleton, Nova Scotia - Through the budget process for the Town of Middleton for this fiscal year, Town Council has had to make several difficult decisions regarding its financial responsibilities and abilities. In order to produce a balanced budget (a balanced budget is mandated by the Municipal Government Act), Council gave tremendous consideration to all of its core services and service levels, along with offered programs and staffing levels.
As a result, several areas within the Town’s budget have either been reduced or held at previous rates despite increased costs beyond the control of the Town. The surplus from last year’s budget in the amount of $190,802 was brought forward and both the residential and commercial tax rates were increased by two cents, which raises approximately $21,000 in revenue. One key service change that the community will see in September are the Crossing Guard positions that the Town has had in place. Through the budget deliberations, the decision has been made to eliminate the Crossing Guard positions effective for the upcoming school year beginning in September.
The main crosswalk at King and Main Streets has an overhead indicator light to assist pedestrians, and the crosswalk at Marshall and Commercial Streets will have a similar light installed this year. Additionally, the Town will be looking to install the handheld flags at major intersections for pedestrians to utilize for higher visibility by vehicles. Parents and caregivers are asked to take note of the change so that they can make appropriate arrangements if they feel their children need assistance while walking to school.
Later this fall, the Town will complete a formal service capacity review with the goal of finding service excellence and internal efficiencies, along with identifying key areas where the Town can further partner with other agencies and/or municipal units to ensure that its core services can be continued.
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For more information
Rachel L. Turner,
Chief Administrative Officer
PO Box 340, Middleton, NS B0S 1P0
902.825.3559
RTurner@town.middleton.ns.ca