Canada/Temiscamingue RCM budget increases by 16

The MRC of Temiscamingue's projected budget for the year 2023 totals $15.8 million. This is an increase of 16.2% compared to 2022.

The projected budget for 2022, set at $13.8 million, was itself up 15.4% from 2021. In that year, the budget was nearly $12 million.

The MRC's budget has been increasing for the past six years, but this does not result in an increase in assessed contributions. Quotas represent the financial contribution of municipalities to the RCM budget.

If we were to continue to increase our quotas, the municipalities would be forced to increase their taxes or reduce their capacity to serve their citizens," explains Claire Bolduc, Reeve of the MRC of Témiscamingue. For the past six years, we have been working to reduce the quotas, and we are succeeding.

The increase in the budget can be explained by an increase in revenues, such as those from natural resource royalties ($1.4 million) and the Fonds Région Ruralité, which represents an envelope of nearly $2.4 million.

We are trying to maximize all potential sources of revenue to enable us to support municipalities, businesses and citizens," adds Claire Bolduc.

More than 90% of the MRC's revenues would be self-sufficient, as they come from various government programs or municipal contributions.

Unavoidable residual materials

Residual materials management represents 26% of the MRC of Témiscamingue's budget, representing $4.1 million in expenses.

The payroll of the MRC's administrative staff increased by 4% to approximately $2.6 million for 44 employees.

Fire Safety Contract

The MRC's most recent monthly council meeting, held Wednesday, also led to the awarding of a contract worth more than $800,000 to Orizon Mobile for the installation and commissioning of a radio communication system for the territory's fire departments.

Fire brigades must be able to communicate with each other," said Claire Bolduc. People in the same brigade must also be able to communicate with each other. We looked for the best communication service we could provide to support our fire departments.

Source: ici.radio-canada.ca