If you live in the Rural Municipality of Ritchot, you can expect your taxes to go up this year.

Mayor Chris Ewen says council has given first reading to its 2019 financial plan. The plan calls for a mill rate increase of .4 mills. Ewen explains for an average home assessed at $300,000 that increase works out to an additional $40 to $65 in taxes this year. For a commercial building valued at $500,000, the increase is between $165 and $235.

(Ritchot Mayor Chris Ewen)Ewen explains a tax increase is necessary in order to keep up with growth in the municipality. He notes they are needing to expand their administrative staff by adding some new positions.

"It's not necessarily because we don't have the funds for some projects and maybe utilities," he says. "It's just solely because we're seeing expansion through our communities and we need the staffing to keep it sustainable."

The municipality will be holding its financial plan public hearing on Tuesday, April 30th at 7 pm at the municipal office in St. Adolphe. Ewen says their budget has not yet been approved and so there is still time for ratepayers to speak out.

"If they have any questions or comments, maybe some additions or suggestions they might have," he says. "I hope we see a lot of people out there, so they can get involved with the process."

Ewen suggests following the public hearing they will probably wait a week or two before giving final readings to the financial plan.