The municipal budgetary announcements from Aumond and Kazabazua highlight significant financial planning aimed at infrastructure development and community service enhancements.
Aumond has laid out ambitious proposals, planning to invest over $1.88 million over the next few years, with about $1.23 million earmarked for road maintenance. This will include necessary upkeep for municipal roads such as chemin Grondin, underscoring the town's commitment to improving local transportation. Mayor Mario Langevin has emphasized community involvement, stating the municipality intends to gather citizen opinions on the establishment of a new municipal park which will see over $200,000 invested by 2026.
The municipal plan also includes future purchases; Aumond aims to acquire a new maintenance truck by 2027, at the cost of $450,000, to replace older vehicles becoming less reliable. This follows the recent purchase of another new truck for immediate use. Langevin noted, "La Municipalité prévoit aussi acheter en 2027 un nouveau camion neuf pour la voirie pour un coût total de 450 000 $," highlighting the administrative foresight.
On the other hand, Kazabazua has recently adopted its budget, reflecting a 3% increase from last year, growing from $2,344,485 to $2,543,185. Mayor Robert Bergeron labeled this increase as positive news for residents, particularly drawing attention to the reduction in the tax rate, which dropped from $0.79 to $0.55 per $100 valuation. He explained, "C’est une bonne nouvelle pour les citoyens lorsque l’on sait que la révision du rôle d’évaluation a donné une hausse de plus de 54%." This shows proactive measures to ease the financial burden on residents amid sweeping valuation adjustments.
Examining the details, the administrative costs are projected to rise by 18.8% in 2025, largely due to recruitment efforts to bolster municipal staffing. Investments continue within the fire department as well, necessitating more funding to acquire new equipment, including significant purchases like air compressors, illustrating the increasing operational scale of local services. Notably, overall transportation costs also surged by over 15%, rising from $699,536 to $746,842, driven primarily by salary increases and necessary tools for the new municipal garage.
Waste management services, including collection and composting, will also see adjustments, with costs rising from $329,077 to $345,608, reflecting a 5.2% increase. Fortunately, there will be no fees for disposing of recycling materials amid enhanced service support from Éco entreprise Québec, allowing Kazabazua residents to continue sustainable practices without additional costs.
These budgetary announcements by Aumond and Kazabazua capture not just numbers but aim to reflect strategic planning for improving infrastructure, community engagement, and necessary resources for local governance. The challenges articulated by both mayors indicate prudent fiscal management amid rising costs, reassuring residents of their municipalities’ commitment to maintaining and improving community quality of life.
Through these measures, both municipalities signify their intent to create lasting, impactful changes, setting the stage for future developments within their respective regions, prioritizing citizen voices and operational efficiency as pivotal elements of effective governing.
