The latest money-saving proposal from The Nation east of Ottawa is to turn three community centres into non-profits.

The rural municipality, population 13,400 in 2021, is telling residents it wants to reduce the costs of running the St-Albert, St-Bernardin and Fournier community centres.

Coun. Danik Fourges, whose Ward 3 includes St-Albert, said there are fewer weddings and less alcohol being sold at these venues than before.

Of the municipality's five community centres, St-Bernadine and Fournier lost money in each of the last three years, as did Limoges. St-Albert turned a profit in 2023 and St-Isidore has been profitable for the last three years, according to The Nation's annual budget.

The municipality is not considering turning Limoges or St-Isidore's community centres into non-profits.

Chantal McLean-Leroux from St-Bernardin told Radio-Canada the proposal is unfair. She said her community would have to step up to keep its centre, while its tax dollars would go to another one about 40 kilometres away in Limoges.

The Nation said during its 2025 budget process that property tax revenue had failed to keep up with inflation and it needed to narrow the gap, including raising property taxes about 9.5 per cent. Policing costs were also a factor, it said.

The Nation also closed three library branches to start this year, including in St-Albert, because it didn't have the officials who are legally required to manage them. The outgoing CEO said she decided to leave after telling elected officials she was feeling ignored amid mounting financial pressure.

A library reopening date has not been confirmed.