04/27/2007 10:20 9024240821 SERVICE N.S. & M.R. PAGE 02/02

GPS to Enhance Municipal Planning and Public Safety Emergency Management Office I Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations

Halifax, NS, April 27, 2007 - - Municipalities across the province will soon be able to provide even more accurate civic address information, which will further enhance Nova Scotia's 9-1-1 emergency service.

The Emergency Management Office and Service Nova Scotia and Municipa.l Relations have invested $300,000 in Global. Positioning System (GPS) units for municipalities and district planning commissions across the province. These units will provide the most accurate location information to the Nova Scotia Civic Address File. This information is used for municipal planning, mapping and emergency response ..

"These units will provide more timely and accurate location information for emergency responders," said Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, Minister of Emergency Management. "Any time we improve the accuracy of civic address information, we improve public safety."

Previously, there has been no common tool among municipalities and district planning commlssions for the collection of civic address information. Providing a common tool that can meet data accuracy standards will allow for the efficient collection and sharing of accurate geographic information.

"This investment furthers our partnership with municipalities and ensures we take advantage of technology to further enhance the collection of geographic information," said Jamie Muir, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.

Thirty four GPS units will be distributed to the municipalities' and district planning commissions that maintain the Nova Scotia Civic Address File, and training will be offered at various locations across the province. Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations is working with all munlcipalities to ensure the accurate collection of civic address information on new roads and buildings.

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Media contact:

Jodi Sibley Deborah Bayer Emergency Management Office Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations 902-434-1906 902-424-0112 Cell: 902-223-3857 Cell: 902~225-4982 Service Nova Scotia 14th Fl, Maritime Centre and Municipal 1505 Barrington St. PO Box216 Relations Halifax, Nova Scotia Municipal Services B3J2M4 Division , i APR 1 9 2007 ji /

To: CAOs, Town Managers and Clerk/Treasurers

I am writing to provide you with information on cost-sharing programs and grant programs administered by Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008.

"Uniform Assessment :

Uniform assessment for use in 2007/08 has been finalized and a complete listing is included in this package.

Equalization Grant The provincial estimates tabled for 2007/08 include a continuation of the equalization grant at last year's level. The method of calculation remains unchanged, but standard expenditures have been revised to reflect 2006107 municipal estimates. A listing is included in this package. Equalization cheques for the first quarter of 2007/08 will be forwarded under separate cover or payment will be made by electronic voucher.

Corrections

Municipal contributions to the cost of Corrections are linked to inflation. Last year, the average annual increase in the Consumer Price Index for Canada was 2.0 %; therefore, the total municipal contributions to Con:-ections in 2007/08 will be $17.4 million. A listing of contributions by municipality and payment summary are enclosed. Your first quarter invoice will be forwarded under separate cover.

Grant in Lien of Taxes and Fire Protection Grant

The provincial budget includes the continuation of the grant in lieu of taxes and fire protection grant programs. Please forward invoices to Maxine Wallace of the Municipal Services Division.

Farmland Acreage Grant

The budget also includes the continuation of the farmland acreage grant. The amount per acre is linked to the Consumer Price Index, which increased by 2.0 % last year. The rate for 2007/08 is $2.57 per acre, in accordance with Section 77 of the Municipal Government Act. Please forward invoices to Maxine Wallace of the Municipal Services Division.

Nova Scotia Government Web Site http://www.gov.ns.ca -2-

Recreation Rate

In accordance witlr Section 76 of the Municipal Government Act, the amount of tax per acre for recreation property has increased by 5% in 2007/08 to $21.62 per acre.

Roads Recovery

The charge per kilometre of roads for 2007/08 has increased by 1.6 % (the December over December increase in the Consumer Price Index for Canada) to $4,447/km. The calculation of your annual charge and a payment summary are enclosed. Your first quarter invoice will be forwarded at a later date.

If you have any questions about these programs, please contact your Municipal Advisor.

Sincerely, 0~'{l,"'''-,

Nathan Gorall

cc: Minister Deputy Minister AMANS UNSM

Nova Scotia Government Web Site htip://www.gov.ns.ca -.':>:-. 2007/08 UNIFORM ASSESSMENT

Regionals Rurals Cape Breton Regional 3,193,146,880 Annapolis 760,748,113 Halifax Regional 26,211,929,824 Antigonish 663,387,331 Region of Queens 709,934,209 Argyle 384,082,613 Total Regionals 30,115,010,914 Barrington 341,701,175 Chester 975,608,244 Towns Clare 428,328,974 Amherst 392,292,538 Colchester 1,591,673,359 Annapolis Royal 65,353,158 Cumberland 862,881,505 Antigonish 343,193,276 Digby 306,898,217 Berwick 109,736,727 Guysborough 457,029,867 Bridgetown 38,511,552 Hants East 930,905,711 Bridgewater 483,019,889 Hants West 584,509,215 Canso 19,927,243 Inverness 667,673,873 Clark's Harbour 35,466,731 Kings 2,458,593,260 Digby 91,996,234 Lunenburg 1,644,327,578 Hantsport 100,062,556 Pictou 1,059,620,276 Kentville 351,207,832 Richmond 775,468,214 Lockeport 26,139,541 Shelburne 270,971,564 Lunenburg 178,702,347 St. Mary's 156,285,995 Mahone Bay 84,164,983 Victoria 443,536,779 Middleton 83,493,105 Yarmouth 480,599,121 Mulgrave 41,266,612 Total Rurals 16,244,830,985 New Glasgow 421,650,281 Oxford 69,118,308 Total 51,740,017,106 Parrsboro 43,377,076 Pictou 113,152,263 Port Hawkesbury 174,784,904 Shelburne 76,238,891 Springhill 111,516,693 Stellarton 181,832,036 Stewiacke 50,554,880 Trenton 97,174,334 Truro 628,399,445 Westville 84,272,242 Windsor 165,382,012 Wolfville 324,043,803 Yarmouth 394,143,715 Total Towns 5,380,175,206 Equalization Grant plus Town Foundation Grant ~"'"

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2007/08 2007/08 Equalization + Equalization + Town 'Foundation Town Foundation Municipality Grants Municipality Grants

Class I Class II CBRM 16,760,131 Annapolis 729,360 HRM Antigonish 82,204 Region of Queens 911,626 Argyle 101,463 Amherst ·1,143,027 Barrington 72,034 Annapolis Royal 50,000 Chester Antigonish 50,000 Clare 184,094 Berwick 156,328 Colchester 384,619 Bridgetown 200,911 Cumberland 650,523 Bridgewater 98,928 Digby 451,135 Canso 272,015 Guysborough Clark's Harbour 157,621 Hants East Digby 346,377 Hants West 187,817 Hantsport 50,000 Inverness 523,736 Kentville 50,000 Kings County Lockeport 147,549 Lunenburg Lunenburg 50,000 Pictou 237,500 Mahone Bay 50,000 Richmond Middleton 300,527 Shelburne 80,935 Mulgrave 96,496 St. Mary's 149,011 New Glasgow 961,584 Victoria 93,481 Oxford 86,668 Yarmouth 154,983 Parrsboro 427,363 Total Class II 4,082,895 Pictou 650,352 Port Hawkesbury 209,037 TOTAL 32,050,000 Shelburne 334,204 Springhill 725,683 Stellarton 608,004 Stewiacke 203,868 Trenton 357,559 Truro 936,573 Westville 816,593 Windsor 385,845 Wolfville 50,000 Yarmouth 322,236 Total Class I 27,967,105 2007/08 CORRECTIONS Total Contribution = $17,404,606

2007/08 2007 Uniform 50% Dwelling 50% Total Assessment Contribution Units Contribution Contribution

Regional Municipalities , Cape Breton Regional 3,193,146,880 537,065 46,722 925,635 1,462,700 Halifax Regional 26,211,929,824 4,408,660 172,133 3,410,222 7,818,882 Region of Queens 709,934,209 119,406 6,734 133,411 252,817 Total Regional Municipalities 30,115,010,914 ' 5,065,131 225,589 4,469,268 9,534,399

Towns Amherst 392,292,538 65,981 4,486 88,875 154,855 Annapolis Royal 65,353,158 10,992 349 6,914 17,906 Antigonish 343,193,276 57,723 2,662 52,738 110,461 Berwick 109,736,727 18,457 996 19,732 38,189 Bridgetown 38,511,552 6,477 497 9,846 16,324 Bridgewater 483,019,889 81,241 3,840 76,076 157,317 Canso 19,927,243 3,352 444 8,796 12,148 Clark's Harbour 35,466,731 5,965 417 8,261 14,227 Digby 91,996,234 15,473 1,104 21,872 37,345 Hantsport 100,062,556- 16,830 543 10,758 27,587 Kentville 351,207,832 59,071 2,704 53,570 112,641 Lockeport 26,139,541 4,396 331 6,558 10,954 Lunenburg 178,702,347 30,056 1,183 23,437 53,494 Mahone Bay 84,164,983 14,156 515 10,203 24,359 Middleton 83,493,105 14,043 978 19,376 33,419 Mulgrave 41,266,612 6,941 383 7,588 14,529 New Glasgow 421,650,281 70,919 4,480 88,756 159,674 Oxford 69,118,308 11,625 588 11,649 23,274 Parrsboro 43,377,076 7,296 829 16,424 23,719 Pictou 113,152,263 19,031 1,664 32,966 51,998 Port Hawkesbury 174,784,904 29,398 1,573 31,164 60,561 Shelburne 76,238,891 12,823 965 19,118 31,941 Springhill 111,516,693 18,756 1,749 34,650 53,407 Stellarton 181,832,036 30,583 2,146 42,516 73,098 Stewiacke 50,554,880 8,503 595 11,788 20,291 Trenton 97,174,334 16,344 1,159 22,962 39,306 Truro 628,399,445 105,692 6,064 120,137 225,830 Westville 84,272,242 14,174 1,654 32,768 46,942 Windsor 165,382,012 27,816 1,729 34,254 62,070 Wolfville 324,043,803 54,502 2,393 47,409 101,911 Yarmouth 394,143,715 66,292 3,435 68,053 134,345 Total Towns 5,380,175,206 904,907 52,455 1,039,215 1,944,122

Rural Municipalities Annapolis 760,748,113 127,952 9,816 194,470 322,423 Antigonish 663,387,331 111,577 6,837 135,452 247,029 Argyle 384,082,613 64,600 4,126 81,742 146,342 Barrington 341,701,175 57,472 3,614 71,599 129,071 Chester 975,608,244 164,090 6,682 132,381 296,471 Clare 428,328,974 72,042 4,822 95,531 167,573 Colchester 1,591,673,3,59 267,708 16,987 336,539 604,247

Cumberland 862,881,505 .": 145,131 " 10,584 209,685 354,816

Digby 306,898,217 " 51,618 4,448 88,122 139,740 Guysborough 457,029,867 76,869 3,370 66,765 143,634 Hants East 930,905,711 156,572 9,056 179,413 335,985 Hants West 584,509,215 98,310 6,383 126,457 224,767 Inverness 667,673,873 112,298 8,253 163,505 275,803 Kings 2,458,593,260 413,518 20,951 415,072 828,590 Lunenburg 1,644,327,578 276,564 13,871 274,806 551,370 Pictou 1,059,620,276 178,221 11,291 223,692 401,913 Richmond, 775,468,214 130,428 5,224 103,496 233,924 Shelburne 270,971,564 45,575 2,940 58,246 103,821 St. Mary's 156,285,~95 26,286 ',2,014 39,900 66,187

' ' -:;": ;-'~. Victoria 443,536,779 )4,6QO ,'; ~4,691 ' : 92,936 167,536 Yarmouth 480,599,121 80,833 5,250 104,011 184,844 Total Rural Municipalities 16,244,830,985 2,732,265 161,210 3,193,820 5,926,085

Total Municipalities 51,740,017,106 8,702,303 439,254 8,702,303 17,404,606 2007/08 Roads Recovery

Calculation of rate

2006107 4,377 CPI 1.6 % 2007108 4,441 .

Calculation of Municipal Contributions

Number Contribution Municipality ofKms @4,447 IKm

CBRM 209.74 932,714 Queens 49.90 221,905 Annapolis 28.39 126,250 . Antigonish 14.96 66,527 Argyle 8.81 39,178 Barrington 11.09 49,317 Chester 35.47 157,735 Colchester 106.24 472,449 Cumberland 41.48 184,462 Digby 10.35 46,026 Guysborough 15.11 67,194 Rants East 56.29 250,322 Rants West 33.73 149,997 Inverness ·28.88 128,429 Kings 135.15 601,012 Lunenburg 78.80 350,424 Pictou 30.32 134,833 Richmond 29.88 132,876 Shelburne 6.20 27,571 St. Mary's 4.94 21,968 Victoria ·24.60 109,396 Yaimouth 14.68 65,282