Property owners in the RM of Cote are paying nearly half a mill more in taxes this year than they paid in 2014. Council approved a budget during its meeting of May 8 which called for a tax rate of 13 mills. Last year the RM council levied a tax rate of 12.525 mills.
This increase will generate about $28,000, said Sherry Guenther, administrator.
Taxation will bring in about $720,000 of the total revenue of $1,038,250, Guenther said. The provincial unconditional revenue sharing grant is $197,770 which is about the same as was received last year, and the organized hamlet grant is $5,787.
Other sources of income include various fees and charges, she said. Council has budgeted $32,000 through gas tax funding and has applied again for the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities Beaver Control Program in which $5,500 has been allocated to the RM.
Another application has been submitted for the channel clearing program through the Water Security Program, she said. In 2014, the RM received $8,500. The Saskatchewan Lotteries grant is expected to be $4,500 and council expects funding from the Provincial Disaster As- Cote RM property taxes increase nearly a half mill Assistance Program (PDAP) but it is unknown what amount
might be received.
During the year council plans to spend $1,030,280, she said. Among expenses are: the fi re agreement with the Town of Kamsack, $21,000; policing fees, $23,000; Parkland Library levy, $6,700; general government expenditures, $170,000; transportation, $660,000; Parkland Regional Waste Management Association, $29,000; recreation and culture, $4,000 and Eaglestone Lodge contribution, $5,000.
Council plans no major capital expenditures during 2015 but is looking at the possibility of repairing or replacing the wooden bridge south of Kamsack on the old highway.
Also during the May 8 meeting, council decided that effective April 15, the minimum charge for grader work would be $25.
Council agreed to apply for the Beaver Control Program and decided to provide a compensation of $30 per adult beaver killed to individuals who are authorized by the council.
Council accepted bids from: Greg Philipchuk for Blk/Par A Plan 101658562 Ext. 12; from Carl Vanin for 21-30-31-1 LSD Ext 45, and from Joe Laderoute for Lot 19 Blk1/Par 1 Plan
101671635 Ext 6.
It was agreed to reimburse Runnydale Farms $70 for fuel costs.
Council was told that the municipality received a grant of $4,500 from Saskatchewan Lotteries for the 2016-17 grant year.