The unincorporated communities of Bayside and Chamcook, which are located fifteen minutes outside of the tiny New Brunswick town of Saint Andrews, are anticipating an increase in their tax bills as of January 1.
The local government change in New Brunswick will result in an almost 50% price increase for the consolidated services.
The two small local service areas make up 31 per cent of the tax base when they become part of Saint Andrews, meaning they’ll have to pay that share for the services.
With such increase, Bayside will experience a 43% increase from. 51 cents to 73 cents per 100 assessed.
Taxes in Chamcook are about to increase. A 47% rise from 49 cents per 100 assessed to 73 cents.
“It will appear slightly differently to other municipalities and LSDs (local service districts) for them. “Told Saint Andrews mayor Brad Henderson,
“But the truth is, if you’re paying for more service than you were before, your taxes are going to go up.
In light of his town’s acceptance of some of the neighbouring local service districts, Henderson stated that he is looking forward to representing the interests of the residents of those areas. He also mentioned that the town is collaborating with the province to address some of the issues that locals have been raising.
“The facilitator actually met with counsel and myself and as well as representatives from the LSDs and the overwhelming response was that there was a reason to be concerned, and we felt that there had to be more discussion so the facilitator that’s in charge (of) that process for our entity,” Henderson said.
“He is sent as a representative from the local government to deal with us, and they are well aware of the problems that we all share.
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Locals have expressed concern about the relocation.
Jeremiah Kerr, a Bayside resident standing for council, stated, “I feel like we’re being harassed and told what to do by the province.”
“We chose to live in a rural area in order to avoid paying high taxes and the associated community tax rates. It raises serious concerns.
Kerr said that many of the residents he’s heard from didn’t even know about the amalgamation until recently.
He raised issues that are of concern to those on fixed incomes who are already dealing with the effects of rising inflation rates.
The tax increases, according to the town of Saint Andrews, would be implemented 5% at a time over a number of years.
Residents of New Brunswick express concern over rising tax rates.
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