The RM of Portage la Prairie has adopted its 2017 budget.

The budget was accepted at the RM's council meeting Tuesday. It calls for a 0.9 per cent increase in general and rural tax dollars to be raised, but will see the mill rate drop 1.5 per cent because of growth in the tax base. Rural residents should see a $10 decrease in municipal taxes on every $100,000 of residential assessment, while farm property assessed at $10-million will dip by $400, administration's report to council explains.

"Our municipality has grown the past few years, and especially this past year," says Reeve Kam Blight. "We have extra businesses, residential developments and more commercial industry. With that we're generating more tax dollars, which is excellent, but also we're required to provide more services."

RM of Portage la Prairie Reeve Kam Blight. (photo by Mike Blume)

"We're bringing in a little extra money to help offset that, to hopefully improve services to ratepayers in the RM of Portage la Prairie," continues Blight. "But we're still able to do that while reducing our mill rate."

The RM's total spending, including debentures and reserves, is also down slightly at $17.1-million, compared to $17.25-million in 2016.

Major capital projects in the 2017 budget include: Development of access from Simplot Road and site at Poplar Bluff Industrial Park for new industry ($2-million), Delta public beach campground upgrades ($500,000), replacement of waters lines in regional system ($365,000), Public Works Garage upgrades and roof repair ($230,000) and the purchase of a sixth grader.

Blight adds, the RM will hold a public hearing in the near future to present the budget and to hear questions or concerns. The full 2017 budget is available here.