Harbour Grace positioning for economic resurgence, says Coombs
By Mark Squibb/December 21, 2022
Harbour Grace Mayor Don Coombs says there will be tax increases in the budget that council plans to pass tonight.
“Our goal is not to increase the tax structure, or the mil rate,” said Coombs. “We cut back last year, but we need some new equipment, we need some different things. It’s been a budget where every line has been looked at, and everything is being analyzed and dissected. We’re going to have a good budget for our residents, and for the Town of Harbour Grace.”
Coombs said despite inflation costs which other towns say are forcing them to raise their taxes, Harbour Grace hopes to avoid that in part due to major cuts made in last year’s budget, which saw a decrease of about 10 percent in expenditures.
“We sharpened our pencils last year, and we cut back everything by 10 percent,” said the mayor. “We did what we had to do so that this year (coming), we could have a nice, attractive budget.”
Coombs said property assessments have increased by about 3.4 percent.
“And yet we have to be cognizant of our spending,” he added. “If we overspend it has got to be paid back. It’s like your credit card. You can use your credit card all you want at Christmas, but you have to pay it back.”
Coombs said council and staff have worked to ensure the Town is in good financial standing, despite a rocky couple of years which saw a number of businesses close.
“But thanks to a lot of hard work by our department heads and councillors and staff, we were able to maintain where we are at, so I was really proud of that,” said Coombs, who also thanked residents for paying their bills on time. “We’ve made some major headway, and there are some major, major announcements to come in the next couple of months. We set the path, and we stayed the path, we stayed the course, we followed our strategic plan and we’re going to reap the benefits.”
Council hopes to pass its budget tonight. It had planned to vote on the budget Monday, but some last-minute things had to be double checked, and the public budget meeting was postponed.
“This council has a lot of vision, and we see opportunities happening, and so we have to make sure our budget is right, because if we overspend, we’re only fooling ourselves,” he concluded.
Coombs said he is pleased with a number of things the current council have completed in the last calendar year, including the creation of — and adherence to— a strategic plan.
“I think coming up with a strategic plan was imperative,” said Coombs. “That came, not just from council, but from input from our citizens, the business community, youth, and seniors.”
The Town also, in the last year, started a senior’s group, the Earhart 55+ Club, and with a wide host of visitors celebrated the 90th anniversary of Amelia Earhart’s transatlantic flight.
Harvey Street also saw heavy upgrades and will receive an extra coat of asphalt in the spring.
“Our residents are our priority,” said Coombs. “The decisions we make on a day-to-day basis, and I say on a day-to-day basis because even though our meetings are only every three weeks, committees are meeting everyday, and those decisions are for the betterment of our citizens, and for a secure, bright and prosperous future for them and generations to come. The late Alec Moores told me one time, I believe it was in 1995, ‘Don, the sun will shine on Harbour Grace — be ready.’ Well, the sun is shinning on Harbour Grace, even on this rainy day, and council is ready for 2023, and beyond.”