2025 Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) – Municipal Council approved the travel and attendance costs for Deputy Warden Dustin Enslow, Councillor Lynn Longmire, and Councillor Karie-Ann Parsons-Saltzman, to attend the 2025 FCM Conference in Ottawa. Alternates: Councillors Ted Agombar and Gail Oxner.

Cost of Living Wage Adjustment – Municipal Council approved an increase to all non-union rates of compensation in the amount of 1.5%, per the Nova Scotia consumer price index (CPI), effective January 1, 2025.  

Nominating Committee:

 Police Advisory Board – Citizen Appointment – Municipal Council approved the appointment of Carol Greentree and William Street to the Annapolis County Police Advisory, effective immediately for a two-year term ending on October 31, 2026.

Bridgetown Planning Area Advisory Committee - Municipal Council approved the appointment of Steve Raftery to the Bridgetown Planning Area Advisory Committee, effective immediately for a two-year term ending on October 31, 2026.

East End Area Advisory Committee - Municipal Council approved the appointment of Derik DeWolfe and Wendy Sheridan to the East End Planning Area Advisory Committee, effective immediately for a two-year term ending on October 31, 2026.

Click here to view Council committees.

Site Plan Approval Appeal – Municipal Council dismissed the appeal of Sylvie & Lance Aikman Green and Bonnie & Randy Shea for the Site Plan approval to enable the development of 11 quadplexes, totaling 44 dwelling units, at PID#05311493 and PID#05298070.

Insurance for Designated Heritage Properties – Council will send a letter to the Nova Scotia Minister of Communities, Culture, and Heritage, requesting that they immediately review and implement legislative changes to support the designation and continuation of current heritage properties across Nova Scotia, and protect them from insurance increases directly related only to their heritage designation. The letter will be copied to Annapolis’ two MLA’s and Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities president.

Growth and Renewal for Infrastructure Development Program - Municipal Council supported the submission of an application to the Growth and Renewal for Infrastructure Development program for upgrades and climate adaption work on the Bridgetown Wastewater Treatment Plant in the amount of $1,252,266.29 for 50% of the total project cost.

Municipal bylaw:

• Bylaw 2 Marketing Levy – first reading
• Bylaw 1 Heritage - second reading (pending ministerial approval)

The following municipal policies were approved:

• Low Income Exemption (Policy 105)
• Occupational Health and Safety (Policy130)
• Emergency Management Comfort Centres and Shelters (Policy 127)
• Hospitality (Policy 131)
• Municipal Traffic Authority (Policy 106)
• Council Remuneration (Policy 114)

For further details on the featured highlights, please click here to view agenda package.

Municipal Council’s approval of the 2025-2026 operating budget and 5-Year Capital Investment Plan means big projects, ambitious goals, and positive community growth.

“Council has given serious and extensive consideration to the budget process,” said Warden Diane LeBlanc. “Today, we (Council) have drafted a budget that was prepared and deliberated respecting fiscal responsibility, managing partnership expectation, and investing in the future of Annapolis County for the well-being of our citizens.”

The county-wide base tax rate will remain at $1.025 for residential and resources properties per $100 of assessment, and $1.80 per $100 of assessment for commercial properties. Bridgetown’s community rates will see a decrease this year to 34.07 cents for residential and resource per $100 of assessment, and 55.81 cents for commercial per $100 of assessment.

The operating budget includes increased investment in public safety, including an additional two RCMP officers, shared 25% with the Town of Middleton, and further investment in fire services. Also, increased investment in public education, public engagement, and economic development.

The sewer system user rates have increased slightly to accommodate the escalating cost associated with the operations and repairs of the aging sewer system infrastructure. This translates to an increase of 1.5% for County residents and an increase to the quarterly base rate for Bridgetown residents of 1.5%. The Bridgetown variable rate will increase $0.61 per cubic meter.

The 5-Year Capital Investment Plan focuses on critical municipal infrastructure upgrades from road rehabilitation to investing in water and sewer infrastructure. A few larger, critical projects include an upgrade to the Bridgetown sewage lagoon and exploring design work for the Granville Street project, which will eventually include replacement of the underground infrastructure and a new road.  Also, this includes upgrades to the Hollow Mountain Road Park, as well as the tennis court fencing in Bridgetown.

This year’s budget, 2025-26, marks the start of public engagement surrounding the multi-purpose recreation facility to ensure the sustainable recreation facilities in the future and support future growth and development.

“The capital plan is forceful but falls in line with positive community growth,” said LeBlanc. “Council has done their best to create a budget that reflects a balance of managing development, while limiting financial impacts on our communities.”

A detailed look at the 2025-26 budget is available on the County website.

Seven years after dissolution, Municipal Council is revisiting the Bridgetown Community Area Rate.

In 2015, during the dissolution of the Town of Bridgetown, the Bridgetown Community Area Rate was designed to capture the costs associated with maintaining levels of service provided to the former Town, such as roads and streets, planning, fire, recreation, and debt servicing. Over the past few months, members of Municipal staff have presented Council with various options for discussion in relation to eliminating, reducing, or maintaining this tax rate.

“The motivation in addressing this issue is to make sure things are fair, not only for Bridgetown residents, but for all residents throughout Annapolis County,” said CAO David Dick.

During a Special Council session on March 1^st, Councillors discussed the level of services presently offered in the community of Bridgetown and focused on determining the ones that they felt should be part of the community rate. These services included:

• Recreation
• Debts occurred by the Town of Bridgetown prior to dissolution
• General Operations – primarily costs associated with maintaining the former Town Hall
• Fire Services
• Streets & Sidewalks

“Staff will now provide Council with the costs associated with each service item and a new Bridgetown Community Area Rate will be determined. At the end of the day, we aspire to the same goal - fairness for all our residents,” CAO Dick noted.

Discussions around the Bridgetown Community Area Rate can be viewed on the County video channel.

Municipal Council adopted the consolidated 2021-22 Financial Statements, year ending March 31, 2022.

The County is in a surplus position which supports the building of operational reserves for future use to stabilize cost pressures and help keep the tax rates and any increases minimized. However, throughout 2021/22, the municipality dealt with volatile operating conditions due to frequent legislative changes in response to the pandemic, as well as staff turnover.

“The 2021/22 financial statements reflect the height of operations during the pandemic,” explained Warden Alex Morrison. “As a result, spending was less than budgeted in many cases and the County received revenues from other levels of government to support the impact of the pandemic on municipalities.”

As an example, the County received a one-time, top-up payment for equalization support,  as well as the Canada Community Building Fund (CCBF – formerly known as Gas Tax). The Province also dispersed Safe Restart funding; a program to help support the impact of COVID on municipalities.

There were also significant transactions during 2021/22 that are reflected in the approved financial statements.

“It was during this fiscal year that Council undertook the sale of the Basin Centre property, acquisition of the Sports Hub as a donated asset from the Province of Nova Scotia, and the sale of the fibre internet to Xplore (formerly Xplorenet),” said Warden Morrison.

The approved 2021-22 statements will be available to view on the County website (AnnapolisCounty.ca). It is anticipated the 2022-23 Financial Statements will be approved by the end of 2023.