Bridgewater’s mayor says this year’s municipal budget was one of the more challenging ones in recent memory, as council worked to keep tax rates unchanged while making major infrastructure investments.

The town passed a $34-million operating budget and approved nearly $17 million in capital spending. That includes $11 million for wastewater system upgrades and close to $3 million for road projects—among them a full rebuild of St. Philip Street, tied to expansion of the business park and utility upgrades.

Mayor David Mitchell said managing those costs without raising the tax rate added pressure, especially in a year when multiple large projects are moving ahead at once.

“This year includes one of our largest capital spends, with a lot of infrastructure work happening at the same time,” Mitchell told CKBW. “We were determined to keep the tax rate the same, which added pressure.”

Revenue increased slightly over last year, with property assessments up just under two percent, according to the Property Valuation Services Corporation. Mitchell said that was helpful, but not enough to offset the full impact of inflation and project costs.

He also pointed to Nova Scotia’s capped assessment system as a continuing issue. The cap limits how much a property’s taxable value can increase each year, regardless of market value. In Bridgewater, 67 percent of properties are capped, accounting for 72.8 percent of total residential value.

“That means a smaller portion of homeowners end up carrying a larger share of the overall tax burden,” said Mitchell. “It’s not fair or sustainable, and it’s something we’ll continue to raise with the province.”

Mitchell said this year’s capital plan was shaped with future costs in mind, including sourcing materials domestically wherever possible due to potential tariffs on U.S. imports. One recent emergency purchase for the wastewater treatment plant required materials from the U.S., and future costs could rise depending on federal trade policy.

While the town has strong operating reserves and no major shortfalls in provincial or federal funding this year, Mitchell said the real challenge lies ahead.

“Next year’s budget will be one of the most difficult in my time as mayor,” he said. “Our debt is increasing as we borrow for infrastructure, and even when other levels of government help, our share still adds up. The servicing costs tied to that debt will continue to grow.”

Council has not yet discussed changes to the tax rate beyond the current fiscal year. Mitchell said their priority remains long-term stability, but the town will need to plan carefully to manage costs without placing added pressure on taxpayers.

More details and budget documents are available at www.bridgewater.ca/budget25.