No residential property tax increase in Hay River, N.W.T., budget — but residents will pay new fee

The Town of Hay River won't increase residential property taxes this year — but the municipal budget does include a new fee for waste management.

The budget was approved at a council meeting earlier this week.

Senior administrative officer Glenn Smith said at Monday's meeting that the new solid waste levy is meant to move the town away from a property tax recovery model, to a more transparent fixed fee to recover costs related to residential waste processing. 

The fixed fee will depend on the service level in the user's residential area. Residents in the Hay River corridor will pay $8 a month, and those north of the corridor will pay $18 a month.

The budget also includes a 2.3-per-cent increase in commercial and industrial property taxes, and a three-per-cent increase in water and sewage rates.

In housing, the town plans to spend a million dollars on residential housing grants to increase the number of multi-family buildings in the community. This is funded by a grant from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's housing accelerator fund.

The town also plans to sell ten of the Fraser Place residential lots.

The budget also includes money to improve the West Channel berm and flood mitigation, enhancements to Hay River's golf course, and for a multi-use recreational area on Vale Island.

The town also hopes to develop a climate change adaptation plan, and implement a wildfire and flood recovery plan.

Revenues brought in this year are projected to be $18.6 million, with expenses projected to be $16.4 million. The budget will result in a $2.25-million surplus going into 2026.