Tantramar Treasurer Michael Beal
It appears that homeowners in Tantramar will be paying lower municipal tax rates next year.
In a presentation to council today, Treasurer Michael Beal revealed that the province has set lower rates for Sackville, Dorchester and the former LSDs under its new local rate stabilizer program.
Tantramar council has the power to increase rates when it passes its 2027 budget next month, but judging from their comments today, members of council want to keep rates as low as they can.
The provincial rates would mean that residents of Sackville and Dorchester would pay just under $1.47 per $100 of assessment next year, down from this year’s rate of just under $1.54,
Residents of the former LSDs pay just over 41 cents to the province mainly for road maintenance and snow plowing.
The table below summarizes this year’s total property tax rates compared to the ones the province has set per $100 of assessment. It combines the provincial LSD rates with the municipal ones:
| Area | 2026 rate | 2027 rate |
|---|---|---|
| Sackville | $1.5350 | $1.4693 |
| Dorchester | $1.5350 | $1.4693 |
| Pointe de Bute | $1.2667 | $1.2301 |
| Former Sackville LSD | $1.0740 | $1.0456 |
| Former Dorchester LSD | $1.1526 | $1.1209 |
The Treasurer will present a detailed draft of his proposed 2027 Tantramar operating budget to council at 9 a.m. on Monday, October 26th.
Water & Sewer
In his presentation of the draft utility budget today, Beal proposed raising water rates for customers in Sackville and Dorchester by 3.8% in each of the next four years.
He said Sackville customers would pay a minimum rate next year of $677 for an annual increase of $25 which would rise if their meters showed they consumed more than 30 cubic metres every three months.
Dorchester customers would pay a flat rate of $891.44 in 2027, an increase of $32.67.
Beal said the 3.8% yearly increases would be needed to pay for rising costs as well as upgrades to underground pipes, lift stations, water treatment plants and sewage lagoons.
He presented a table showing that Sackville and Dorchester had among the lowest utility rates in the province this year:
