Lower Tax Rates for Dieppe Residents in 2025

DIEPPE, N.B. — Dieppe City Council adopted its $101.3-million operating budgets for 2025 at its public meeting on November 25. Of that amount, $85.3 million will go to the general operating budget and $16.0 million to the water and sewer budget.

Also adopted at the meeting were the capital budgets: $41.5 million for the general capital budget and $10.7 million for the water and sewer capital budget.

Lower tax rates for 2025

For the fourth year in a row, City Council is easing the tax burden on property owners within Dieppe’s former boundaries by reducing the tax rate by 6.5¢. That rate now stands at $1.3650 per $100 of assessment, compared with $1.6295 in 2021, a decrease of 16.2%.

“Last spring, a number of residents shared with us their dismay at the increase in their property tax bill. Although the municipality has no control over property assessment, we listened to residents and chose to reduce the tax rate by 6.5 cents, something that’s within our power to do. We determined that financial relief for residents was a priority,” said Mayor Yvon Lapierre.

The reduction represents roughly $3.62 million in lost revenue and means that homeowners entitled to the provincial 10% cap on property assessments will not have to pay more than a 5% increase on their next property tax bill. As for the water and sewer bill, it remains the same as it has been since 2020, i.e., $948 annually.

“To be able to reduce the tax rate, our base budget, budget process and financial plan have been revised. The revisions, combined with sound financial management, will enable us to help residents while still meeting our municipal obligations,” said Marc Melanson, the City’s Chief Administrative Officer.

Major upcoming projects

“Several major road projects are planned for 2025, including the continued extension of Dieppe Boulevard, the reconstruction of Gauvin Road (between Collège and Marché), Ste-Thérèse Street (between Paul and Acadie), Copp Street, LeBlanc Road (up to civic number 586), the grading and paving of Champlain Street (between Aviation and Lorette), the construction of Trotteur Court and much more,” added Melanson. “This budget aligns directly with the priorities of City Council, our strategic plan and our master plans.”

A number of other projects will also be carried out in 2025. Examples include renovations to the Arthur-J.-LeBlanc arena, various water and sewer projects, the purchase of new buses, and the acquisition of land for future projects. Significant sums will be dedicated to the RCMP and improving public transit.

Local governance reform

As a result of the Province’s local governance reform, the City of Dieppe has new municipal responsibilities for certain residents of the former Greater Lakeburn and Scoudouc LSDs. Careful work has been done to determine the tax rate that best reflects the level of shared services in 2025, which is about $0.7350 per $100 of assessment.

In keeping with the catch-up plan governed by the Province, the tax rate will therefore be $0.6445 per $100 of assessment for residents of the former Greater Lakeburn LSD and $0.5692 for those of the former Scoudouc LSD. This translates into a 5¢ increase for each of the two former LSDs, plus a second rate paid directly to the province for services that the latter continues to provide, such as those related to roads.

“Tax reform will continue to be an issue in New Brunswick for years to come, and it must include a review of all responsibilities and the funding associated with them. We hope it will be completed by the 2026 budget, which will enable us to better plan for the future,” said Mayor Lapierre.

General operating budget

Revenue sources

Property taxes: $77.3 million

Community funding grant: $400,000

Other: $7.6 million

TOTAL: $85.3 million