Proposed Moncton budget includes more money for police, fire, aims to reduce hit to taxpayers

Moncton staff say the city's draft 2025 budget includes higher spending on police, firefighters and transit while trying to reduce the impact to taxpayers from climbing property assessments.

Jacques Doucet, Moncton's general manager of finance services, gave councillors a high-level overview of the 2025 budget at a committee meeting Monday afternoon. 

"Another key consideration this year is the affordability of the taxpayers and ratepayers," Doucet told councillors. 

However, whether that will mean a reduction in the tax rate will only be made public Tuesday morning, when council starts three days of budget meetings.

In August, councillors voted for a 2025 budget strategy that planned for a tax rate cut. Moncton cut its tax rate in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Doucet said the city is planning a $223.8 million operating budget, a utilities budget of $46.2 million, and a $62.6 million capital budget.

The operating budget includes staff salaries, representing 33 per cent of spending, and the budget for the Codiac Regional Policing Authority.

The authority oversees the Codiac Regional RCMP and is asking for a 29 per cent budget increase, which would include adding 17 more Mounties next year.

Doucet told reporters the budget also includes spending to hire more firefighters and to increase Codiac Transpo bus service. 

"They are seeing the demand for that transportation has drastically increased, so we've invested in that service," Doucet said. 

That includes money in the capital budget, which covers things like buildings and roads, to buy more buses. The city has a long-term plan to switch its bus fleet from diesel to electric.

Doucet said the capital budget, which covers five years, also includes funds for a new aquatics centre. Last year, council voted to start looking for a suitable site for a new facility. 

The details of the various spending plans are expected to be made public Tuesday and Wednesday. The budget, including any potential tax rate change, could be amended by council before final approval expected on Thursday. The city plans to broadcast the budget meetings on its YouTube channel.

The neighbouring municipalities of Dieppe and Riverview are also going through their budgets. Dieppe city staff outlined the details last week, and council approval could take place Monday evening. 

The details presented to Dieppe council last week call for a tax rate cut of 6.5 cents for most of the city. That would make the rate $1.3650 per $100 of assessed value. Areas amalgamated with the city, like Greater Lakeburn and Scoudouc, would see a tax rate increase of five cents. 

Dieppe is proposing an $85.3 million operating budget and a $41.5 million capital budget in 2025. Capital projects include $10 million to extend Dieppe Boulevard and rebuilding a portion of Gauvin Road in the downtown.

Riverview expects to go through its budget during a meeting Thursday at town hall, with final approval expected Dec. 9.