The Town of Niverville is expecting to go through 18 and a half million dollars this year.

Tuesday’s budget meeting for 2020 revealed increases across every department except for Recreation, which experienced a nearly 5 and a half million dollar reduction.

(Photo credit: Town of Niverville)

Despite the 27% reduction in spending for the Recreation Department, the town is still planning to add lighting and walking paths at Hespeler Park, rebuild its final baseball diamond, and complete the park’s playground. Additionally, the plan includes the completion of Wetlands Park and improvements to the exterior and plumbing of the Centennial Arena.

The greatest difference in funding this year belongs to the Environmental Development Department with an almost 39% increase. Councillor Nathan Dueck attributes some of that to an urban canopy initiative that seeks to bring more trees into the town. “We’ve looked at maps of Niverville and we see this beautiful green canopy in the middle,” says Dueck, “and then on the west side, the east side, you have nothing.” Council is hoping to change that.

Minor increases in Economic Development and General Government Services will be used for marketing the town as a commercial and industrial hub. It will also be used to continue developing community healthcare.

One future expense that the council has decided to get a jump on, is the eventual increase to RCMP costs that come when a community’s population crests five thousand. A number Niverville looks to easily supersede by the census set for 2022. Furthermore, spending in the Protection Department will afford the Niverville Fire Department replacements of expired gear and a new Fleetnet Radio system.

Property owners are looking at a 2% municipal tax increase in 2020, which equates to $37.03 for homes assessed at a value of $287,100.

The big projects this summer are the continuation of the Community Resource and Recreation Centre and a new wastewater treatment facility, which is being built in conjunction with three other Rural Municipalities. “It’s a 109 million dollar project,” says the Mayor, “and if we were to do it on our own, with lagoons, we’re looking at spending 170 million dollars as a region.”

All in all, a busy year for the aspiring community.