Paradise tip toes closer to swimming pool idea

By Mark Squibb

Paradise council has approved a balanced budget of $44.6 million that holds the line on residential and commercial mil rates and other taxes.
While there have been no tax increases, councillor Larry Vaters, who chairs the administration and committee and brought forward the budget, reminded residents they will see an increase on their tax bills – estimated at about $102 per household on average – due to an increase in residential property assessments.
The Town though will continue to offer some relief with the burden through its Residential Property Tax Assistance Program and Seniors Discount.
Council is also adding $500,000 to the Town’s reserve fund, bringing the total to $3.75 million.
Unique to this year’s budget is the promise of a feasibility study for a swimming pool.
“There is one facility our residents continue to rank as a top priority – a swimming pool,” said Vaters. “Making a decision to invest in a pool must be based on comprehensive, in-depth information. Council has an obligation to ensure we are fully informed about the required financial commitment to both build and operate such a facility. In Your Paradise – Plan 2027, we identified several advocacy priorities, one of which is a feasibility study for a pool. Through Budget 2025 we will complete that study. The feasibility study is the important first step, and we commit to keep residents informed about the progress.”
In the meantime, the town will continue to budget for public swims at neighbouring pools and continue to partner with the Ches Penney Family YMCA to offer swimming lessons for Paradise residents.
Water and sewer installation will also continue next year with funds assigned for Drovers Road, Bayview Heights, Windmill Road, Carberry Place, and Neary Road. That will leave just four streets, comprising 30 homes, on the priority list.
The budget will also introduce a new Private Booster Rebate Program for residents of Elizbeth Park to address water pressure issues, and a leak detection program.
Folks who missed securing a free radon kit from the Town will get another chance in 2025.
Council has earmarked $1.2 million for road work, including Phase I of the Kenmount Road Re-habilitation Project, which includes 550 metres of road surfacing, storm sewer, curb, gutters, sidewalks, and trail for the section of the road starting at the McNamara Drive intersection and heading east on Kenmount Road.
Council has budgeted $2.2 million for snow removal in 2025, will lease six loaders with snow clearing attachments, and buy a new tandem and more sidewalk clearing equipment. Council will continue to investigate the need for a new works depot.
On the recreation front, council has earmarked funds to develop the Trenton Drive Open Space based on a plan developed with residents, along with the accessible trail connecting Trenton Drive and Octagon Pond Elementary. Council has also budgeted for a trail connecting Silverbirch Crescent and Paradise Elementary and another to link Morgan Avenue with Howard Avenue. The Town will begin engineering work on a new ball field, and will work with Paradise Minor Baseball to select the site.
Vaters said the Town will be work with local businesses during the 2025 Canada Summer Games to better showcase what Paradise has to offer, and council expected great returns.
Council will continue to work closely with the RNC in the new year, Vater said and will push for an RNC detachment.
“We appreciate the collaborative relationship we have with the RNC, and we want to see their presence increase in Paradise,” said Vaters. “Our numbers are clear, a town our size needs an increase in RNC resources allocated here.”
Neighbouring Conception Bay South and Mount Pearl, which have comparable populations to Paradise, both have RNC detachments.
The Town has also earmarked funds to increase Metrobus services.
“Since 2021, Route 30 in Paradise has gone from an annual ridership of 7,300 to 22,000 in 2023, and we are on track to reach 27,000 by the end of this year,” said Vaters. “With this increased usage, in Budget 2025 we are investing to further enhance Metrobus Route 30 in Paradise. Starting in September 2025, the route will move from a morning and evening commuter route to an all-day service.”
The Town also plans to introduce yard waste collection and a food cyclers program, as well as a new notification app.
Vaters noted that, in accordance with the new Towns and Local Service District Act, which comes into effect in January, and will replace the Municipalities Act, council will make its Committee of the Whole meetings public.
As a side note, this past year’s budget consultations, conducted through surveys, ‘pop-ups’ and roundtables, marked the highest participation rate by the public.
Following Vater’s presentation, council members got to contribute their two cents on the plan.
“The cost to do business remains high again this year, and while we would have loved to support all the needs and wants presented during our budget talks, decisions were made to find a balance so that there would be no increase to the mil rate or water and sewer rates,” said Deputy Mayor Kimberley Street. “In saying that, I believe there is a lot to look forward to in the 2025 budget.”
Councillor Glen Carew voiced his support for the budget, though he did lament the amount of money the Town has had to spend building the lift station 10 replacement and on maintenance of the old lift station.
“If I’m being truly honest, I need to acknowledge the financial albatross hanging around the neck of the town with respect to the existing and soon to be commissioned lift station 10,” said Carew. “Although once commissioned, this piece of needed infrastructure will provide consistently reliable service and capacity growth for the future for many years to come, it is my personal observation and feeling that this project has, and will continue to, financially constrain us as we go into the next number of years.”
Councillor Deborah Quilty, meanwhile, said balancing the budget wasn’t easy, but she was very pleased with the result. She quipped that the budgets of today are considerably larger than the budgets of 30 years ago, when she was first elected to council.
Councillor Patrick Martin highlighted a number of items he is excited about, including the Tren-ton Drive open space concept, new snow clearing equipment, and the swimming pool feasibility study.
Councillor Tommy Maher and Mayor Dan Bobbett concurred with other members of council in voicing their support for the budget.
Of the town’s forecasted $44 million in revenue, 52 percent, some $23 million, will come from residential property taxes, with 12 percent from business taxes. Residential water and sew fees account for another 12 percent of revenue. Nine percent, roughly $3.8 million, will come from commercial property tax.
Transportation services, which includes vehicle operations and maintenance, roads and side-walks, snow removal, public transit, and streets and traffic lights, accounts for the single largest chunk of expenditures at $9.3 million. General Government, which includes administrative costs, is the second highest expense at $7.8 million.