Municipality of Clare Announces Balanced Operating Budget for 2025-2026

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Details: Published: 29 April 2025; Aussi offert en français; Hits: 1350

Press Release
(for immediate release)

Little Brook, NS – April 29, 2025: In a year that will see the completion of multiple major infrastructure projects including the Clare Health Centre expansion and the new Clare Veterans Centre, the Municipality of Clare is announcing a balanced operating budget of $14,460,751.

For the first time since 2014, the Municipality of Clare is increasing the residential tax rate to $1.10 (from $1.04) per $100 of assessment. The commercial tax rate is also rising to $2.13 (from $2.07) per $100 of assessment, marking the first change since 2010. To put this into perspective, this equates to an additional $60 for every $100,000 of assessed property value.

The tax rate increase is attributable to rising operational costs, most notably a large increase in the protective services – police budget. This increase represents an investment in protective services through the addition of two new RCMP officers at the Meteghan detachment. The need for additional policing resources was echoed in numerous public requests and was further supported by a General Duty Police Resource Model (GDPRM) study, completed in 2024 and presented to the public in January 2025.

“This was not a decision taken lightly,” said Warden Yvon LeBlanc. “Like many municipalities, we’re seeing the effects of inflation on the cost of delivering services and maintaining infrastructure. A lot has changed since our previous tax rates were adopted in 2014 and 2010, and this increase will allow us to continue providing essential services, while investing in areas that support safety, growth, and quality of life in our community.”

The Municipality of Clare remains committed to supporting protective services within our community and has slated over 24% of the annual operating budget, or $3,535,341, to fund law enforcement, fire services, emergency management, search and rescue operations, building inspections, security for seniors, and more.

Moreover, the Clare Health Centre operations and doctor recruitment strategy will continue to receive financial support through the health services budget, which accounts for roughly 11%, or $1,580,664, of the 2025-2026 municipal budget.

Approximately 11%, or $1,634,814, of the budget will be allocated to community development. A wide range of initiatives, services, and organizations are supported through the community development budget including tourism, recreation, CJA day camps, public buildings and facilities, municipal parks, and several cultural services.

Other notable budget items include the mandatory education contribution of $2,494,764, or 17% of the 2025-2026 budget; environmental health services which include waste management services, wastewater treatment and public works operations for $2,141,746, or 15% of the 2025-2026 budget; and general government services which encompass Council/staff expenses, and various items including insurance, auditing, legal, assessment, translation and IT, in the amount of $1,749,315 or 12% of the annual operating budget.

Property owners in Clare should expect to receive their tax bills in the mail in the upcoming days. The deadline to pay 2025-2026 property taxes is Monday, June 30, 2025. Property taxes can be paid with cash, cheque, debit card, credit card, preauthorized payment, e-transfer, wire transfer, and bill payment. Full payment details and instructions are available on our website here.

The Municipality of Clare offers a Property Tax Rebate Program for low-income households in the amount of $300.00 to homeowners whose total household income from all sources for 2024 was less than $29,000.00. The application forms for the Property Tax Rebate Program are available in person at the municipal office or below:

Click here to download a printable version of the Property Tax Rebate application form