Did you know that Dieppe has implemented a sound financial plan that strikes a balance between growth, development and improved services for residents? The plan helps the City avoid financial pitfalls, such as lack of life-cycle planning, unplanned expenditures and excessive borrowing.
The City’s long-term financial plan is based on a strategic approach and includes the following:
- setting of priorities for infrastructure projects and equipment purchases
- borrowing limits of $1.5 million per year or $4.5 million per three-year period in order to attain a debt-ratio reduction target of 10% by 2027 (since the ratio will be below the 10% mark in 2023, annual borrowings have been increased to $5 million)
- sound management of surpluses and reserves
- creation of reserves for asset management
- development of a long-term vision
- working responsibly and transparently
- impact assessment on the City’s future viability
By upholding the principles and objectives set out in the financial plan, and thanks to a growing tax base and a responsible approach over the years, the City was able to lower the mill rate in 2022 by 7.95 cents to $1.46 for every $100 of assessed value.
Operating budget
This budget ensures the funding of all municipal services except for water and sewer, which are paid for directly by water and sewer account holders.
| Property taxes (residential and commercial) | $65.1 million |
| Community funding grant and equalization payment | $900,000 |
| Other revenue (building permits, arena rentals, Aquatic and Sports Centre, surplus from previous years) | $5.1 million |
| Total | $71.1 million |
Summary of costs for each category
Where does the money go? Here is a breakdown:
| Administration – 9.6% |
| Governance and administration, i.e., operating costs and salaries of Council and Corporate Services (HR, administration, finance, IT, City Clerk’s office, organizational performance) |
| Valuation cost – 1.2% |
| Property valuation costs |
| Police – 11.9% |
| Codiac Regional Policing Service – RCMP |
| Fire – 10.2% |
| Dieppe Fire Department |
| Cost of water - 3% |
| Water used by Fire Department |
| Other protective measures – 6.2% |
| Planning, development, inspections, municipal bylaw enforcement |
| Transportation – 7.5% |
| Snow clearing and maintenance of roadways and sidewalks, garbage collection, public transit and adapted transportation |
| Communications – 1.7% |
| Communications Department, website, advertising, sponsorships, translation, communication tools, tourism and signage |
| Engineering – 2.8% |
| Engineering Department and hiring of consultants |
| Reserve – 0.6% |
| Leisure, culture and community life – 15.6% |
| Recreational facilities, culture, activities, park and trail maintenance |
| Buildings and municipal fleet – 3.8% |
| Maintenance and management of various buildings and municipal vehicles |
| Financial services – 9.2% |
| Interest and principal payments |
| Operational capital – 16.2% |
| Money used to pay cash for capital projects |
Water and sewer operating budget
The revenues for this budget come from fees billed directly to water and sewer account holders. They are used to maintain the City’s water and sewer infrastructure and to purchase the water consumed by residents.
For 2023, water and sewer services cost a typical household $948, an amount that has not increased since 2020.
| Fees collected on water and sewer accounts | $11.6 million |
| Refund on water used by Fire Department | $2.2 million |
| Other revenues and surplus from previous years | $0.9 million |
| Total | $14.7 million |
| Purchase of water | 10.9% |
| Wastewater treatment | 17.5% |
| Operational capital | 9.9% |
| Debt servicing | 18.8% |
| Operation and maintenance – water | 22.6% |
| Operation and maintenance – sewer | 11.5% |
| Reserve | 4.2% |
| Prior year deficit | 4.6% |