CBS taking on Manuels River Centre without increasing taxes

By Mark Squibb

Conception Bay South council’s spending plan for 2025 weighs in at $44.3 million and will see no increases in residential or commercial property taxes and water and sewer rates.

“Our revenues were up, and when we looked at our goals for the year, we didn’t need to increase taxes,” said Deputy Mayor Andrea Gosse. “This council was elected in 2021 during the pandemic, and in Budget 2022 we had COVID stimulus funds that helped us reach our goals. In 2023 and 2024, we had challenges with escalating costs that everyone experienced. And now we’re seeing things are leveling out, things are more balanced, and so we didn’t need to increase our mil rats or our fees.”

But the Town is taking on more responsibilities, at least when it comes to the Manuels River Interpretation Centre, which it is taking over in partnership with the Centre’s old board, which found it difficult keeping up with the financial demands of the day-to-day operations, including upkeep and snow removal.

“This decision follows years of partnership with Manuels River Community Inc., and it comes at the request of the Board of Directors and with the agreement of their membership,” said Gosse. “This decision reflects our dedication to preserving this valuable community asset. We thank Manuel’s River Community Inc., for their dedication and hard work in building the centre into what it is today. Moving forward, we will work closely with stakeholders to re-imagine the centre and it’s programming, ensuring it remains a treasured space for community engagement and connection with nature.”

The vote by the Centre’s board was only held the night before council approved the budget, but Gosse said talks between the parties had been ongoing for some time.

As part of the transition, council will more than double its annual contribution towards the operating cost, increasing it from $125,000 to $300,000, a portion of which will be used to maintain the many trails along the river.

Gosse said a transitional team is in place and will be working on an operational plan in the coming months.

“At this time, we can’t really comment on the exact details,” said Gosse. “But this is a valuable asset to the community, and we see this as a positive moving forward. It’s going to be a new community space, and we will find a way forward and find a use for that building.”

Gosse said that by assuming ownership of the building, the town will relieve the Manuel’s River organization of its financial responsibility and allow it to focus on its core mission of environmental education and stewardship.

Gosse noted the Town will honour all existing wedding bookings for 2025.

And while the town intends to use the centre as a community space, Gosse said that council remains committed to one day building a community centre at The Gateway, a plan that has been in the works since 2022. Council is currently seeking funding for the project.

On a recreation front, council has budgeted $350,000 for an accessible playground at Topsail Beach Rotary Park, $300,00 to upgrade the pedestrian bridge near Sgt. Ned Nugent’s Field, $30,000 to enhance the Stoney Hill Tennis Courts, and $100,000 to upgrade the Jim Crosbie Baseball Field. Council has also earmarked $130,000 for the CBS Soccer Association and the Royal Newfoudnland Yacht Club to prepare for hosting the 2025 Canada Summer Games.

On a capital works front, council is committing $3.8 million for water and sewer upgrades, with $1.5 million allocated for upgrades to the water transmission main, $1.3 million for water and sewer infrastructure upgrades throughout town, and $900,000 for upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Council has budgeted $5 million for street and sidewalk upgrades, including $400,000 for 700 metres of new sidewalk in Topsail and Kelligrews, $1.2 million to install new street paving, the replacement of Seal Cove Bridge at a cost of $2.4 million, and $1 million to complete street upgrades along Gateway Drive in preparation for new development.

Council will undertake a $100,000, six-month odour control pilot project to address concerns of residents living near the Cronin’s Head plant.

Council also hopes to undertake design work to better stabilize the Long Pond inner harbour breakwater. The multi-year project is expected to cost some $15 million, $6 million of which will come from the federal government.

Budget 2025 also accounts for an expanding workforce, as the Town has created a number of new staff positions, including a new management position at the Conception Bay South Fire Department, another Development Control Coordinator, an Engineering Assistant Manager, and another Public Works Supervisor.

Council has budgeted some $3.3 million in commercial tax revenue — it’s highest ever.

“It’s an increase, and we feel good about it,” said Gosse. “This council has been very pro-business, and has supported business, and so when we see growth, that is exactly what we have worked towards and will continue to work towards. And in 2025, we will see more growth.”

Gosse allowed CBS has “always lagged a little bit behind” in commercial tax revenue.

“The burden has been on residents in the running of the town, and so now we’re happy to see an increase in business, and we anticipate seeing more as we move forward,” said Gosse. “We are set for growth in our business community.”

And while council is not increasing taxes or fees, Budget 2025 introduces two new fees to increase compliance with the Town’s development regulations.

The first is a Non-Compliance Surcharge which will apply to work such as demolitions, construction, or developments undertaken without obtaining a permit from the Town, beginning January 1.

The second is a Permit Compliance Security, which is a refundable, interest-bearing deposit, that will be required for certain projects where additional financial security is deemed appropriate.

Gosse said the best course of action is for people to simply get a permit — especially as council has for the last number of years waived permits fees for things such as sheds and garages.

“We encourage people to do things properly, because it makes things simpler,” said Gosse.

There will be no new borrowing in 2025. Since 2019, the Town’s annual debt payments have decreased by $1.4 million, reducing total debt from over $26 million to less than $17 million in 2024.

Council will continue to offer a 12-month interest-free monthly payment plan and various property tax reduction initiatives. Seniors will continue to benefit from the Seniors Property Tax Reduction, Seniors Property Tax Incentive, and the Low-Income Tax Reduction.

Council will also continue to eliminate building permit fees for projects approved under federal and provincial affordable and rental housing programs and will continue to offer a 50 per cent reduction in building permit fees for multi-unit developments.