At a special meeting of Richmond Municipal Council last night in Arichat, councillors voted to keep the residential tax rate at $0.85 per $100 of assessment, while maintaining the commercial rate at $2.15. District 3 Councillor Brian Marchand voted against the budget.
After approving Area Rates, Deputy Warden Brent Sampson introduced a motion to charge those in Point Tupper an Area Rate of 5 cents, noting that he was under the impression that was the direction council wanted to take.
However, CAO Troy MacCulloch said he checked with the Eastern District Planning Commission and because there is no existing Area Rate for that part of the municipality, council would have to follow a process to approve that new charge.
District 4 Councillor Amanda Mombourquette agreed that it would be best to wait for more information from the EDPC before proceeding and Warden Lois Landry noted that council is not required to approve that new Area Rate now, but it can be revisited soon.
After the Deputy Warden withdrew the motion, Marchand said council will have to deal with the matter sooner rather than later, with Sampson noting that residents will be receiving mail-outs with Area Rates by the start of September.
