LUNENBURG – Lunenburg Town Council approved the 2025/26 Capital and Operating Budgets for the Town, Water Utility, and Electric Utility at its May 27, 2025 Council meeting.
The balanced Town Operating Budget will be $11.32 million for the 2025/26 fiscal year. There will be no changes to property tax rates this year, as the residential rate will remain at $1.376 per $100 of assessment, and the commercial rate will stay at $3.358 per $100.
Top-line details from each of the budgets include:
2025/26 Town Operating Budget
Mandatory Expenses
Over $2.4 million of the Town’s operating budget goes toward mandatory services the Town is required to fund, including:
- Education contributions: $1.24 million
- RCMP policing services: $1.12 million
- Assessment services: $50,900
Key Highlights of the Town Operating Budget
- Sewer rates will increase by 2.3% to help cover rising costs associated with operating and maintaining the Town’s wastewater system. For residential customers, this means an increase of approximately $16.53 per year, from $718.85 to $735.38.
- Other major spending areas include:
- Transportation services (road maintenance, fleet, and street lighting): $1.59 million
- Environmental health services (wastewater and garbage): $1.75 million
- Recreation and cultural programs: $1.07 million
Although the Town is not making changes to property tax rates this year, some residents may still notice a change in their tax bill. This is because property taxes are based on two parts:
- Property assessments are set by the Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC), a provincial agency that determines the market value of properties annually.
- Property tax rates are set by the Town and applied to the assessed value to calculate the tax bill.
2025/26 Capital Budget
The Town’s capital budget for 2025/26 will be $4.69 million.
A few projects planned for this year include:
- Repairs and upgrades to key town buildings, including the Town Hall and Lunenburg Academy.
- Street and sidewalk improvements, such as the complete reconstruction of a portion of Pelham Street and design work for a new sidewalk near the new daycare location on Starr Street.
- Restoration of the Bandstand, including new accessibility features.
2025/26 Water Capital Budget
The Town’s $2.2 million water capital budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year, will focus on maintaining safe, reliable water service and investing in critical infrastructure upgrades.
Major Projects Included in this Budget
- Dares Lake Dam and Spillway Upgrade – $1.319 million
Approved by Council on April 22, 2025, this project involves replacing the deteriorated spillway at Dares Lake—Lunenburg’s primary water source. The upgrade is essential for protecting water quality and managing lake levels safely. - Town-wide Water Meter Rollout – $600,000 Installation of individual residential water meters, enhancing water usage monitoring and billing accuracy. This multi-year project was approved by Council in 2022.
2025/26 Water Operating Budget
The water operating budget will be $1.78 million for the 2025/26 fiscal year. This reflects a 1.4% increase over the previous year—an overall change of $24,700. This budget reflects a slight inflation-related increase in operational costs.
2025/26 Electric Utility Budget
The capital budget for the electric utility for 2025/26 will be $3.24 million.
Of that total, $2.373 million was pre-approved by Council on March 11, 2025, to move forward with two major infrastructure projects:
- Feeder 81W-233 Upgrade to Dufferin Street – $1.721 million
- Green Street Double Circuit Installation – $652,000
These upgrades will improve grid reliability, support new developments like Harbour View Haven and medical housing on Knickle Road.
2025/26 Electric Operating Budget
The electric operating budget for 2025/26 is $8.51 million.
The budget reflects increased costs for delivering electricity and is based on current rates, with new rate approvals to be considered by the Nova Scotia Energy Board (formerly the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board) at a public hearing on July 22, 2025.
The full budget documents are available here:
Fiscal 2025/26 Town Operating and Capital
Fiscal 2025/26 Water Operating and Capital
Fiscal 2025/26 Electric Operating and Capital
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