Adoption of 2025 Budgets

Nov 26, 2024

At a special public meeting, Edmundston City Council adopted its budgets for 2025, which were prepared with the goal of keeping the municipality strong, in good financial health and able to support community needs. They are broken down as follows:

• General operations:                                    $44,160,801
• Water and wastewater operations:               $7,419,518
• Electricity:                                                   $41,653,752

"Thanks to good planning and responsible management, Edmundston's budgets are fully in line with our mission to provide quality services to the population and to ensure that our infrastructures and equipment are maintained in good condition. Like the entire population, we are putting our shoulder to the wheel to ensure the success of this redesigned municipality," explained Mayor Eric Marquis.

(2025 Tax rates by sector )

Water and wastewater operating funds

 Budgeting for the water and wastewater operating funds is based on the user-pay principle. The City of Edmundston now has two separate systems that will be combined into a single fund by 2025.

"We were able to make up for the accumulated deficits in the water and sewerage fund of the former village of Rivière-Verte. In doing so, we have been able to combine the two funds for this service to ensure greater operational efficiency. Despite a declining debt, due to ageing networks, the municipality must maintain its capacity to invest while minimizing its recourse to borrowing, hence the reason for the rate increase for 2025," explains Mayor Éric Marquis.

Water and sewer rates will be increased by $15 to $810 (base rate without meter) in 2025. The debt ratio for this utility has fallen from 8.4% to 6.6% compared with last year's budget.

 Electricity generation fund

 The operating budget for the Electricity generation gund has increased significantly to absorb an increase announced by New Brunswick Power and approved by the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board earlier this year.  The debt ratio is falling slightly, from 8.5% in 2024 to 8.0% in 2025. Note that any increase at New Brunswick Power will automatically result in an increase in Edmundston.

 Credits to customer accounts at the beginning of the year

 Subject to confirmation by the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board, credits of 0.11% retroactive to April 1, 2024, will be applied to Edmundston Energy customer accounts at the beginning of the year.  These new rates reflect an average of 9.14% compared to the interim rate of 9.25% adopted by the Board on April 1, 2024.

The New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board reviewed its April 2024 decision and concluded that the increase should have been 9.11%. To maintain uniform rates, and since the Municipality purchases its electricity from New Brunswick Power, Edmundston Energy therefore recommended the following rate revision.

-30-

CONTACT: Mr. Marco Daigle, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Administrative Services, 506.739.2119