The Town of Annapolis Royal will lose approximately $580,000 in provincial operating revenue in 2009, a move caused by the reallocation of tax monies flowing from the Tidal Power Plant in Annapolis Royal.

"It seems that in 2005, the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities (UNSM) requested a review of the assessment of all Nova Scotia Power Inc. properties, of which the Annapolis Basin Tidal Power Plant is one," said Annapolis Royal Mayor Phil Roberts. "Our funding was based on an assessment of $41 million; now the Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC) has decided that the Tidal Power Plant is only worth $16 million. This means that our Town will immediately lose approximately 62 per cent of our grant in lieu of taxes. It is completely unacceptable."

The $16 million evaluation figure is actually $7 million higher than the evaluation given to the Town at the meeting on December 5th. That increase, announced by PVSC on December 9th, has not changed the view of Mayor Roberts.

"We are going to fight this cut. We have a meeting with the Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations early in January”, said the Mayor. “We are sure it is not the intention of the minister to destroy Canada's oldest Town, but this funding cut will effectively put the very existence of Annapolis Royal in jeopardy and we simply cannot allow that to happen.”

In the meantime, the Town has asked the Minister for the services of a consultant to review its options. Concerned citizens are invited to call the Mayor or Town CAO Amery Boyer with their questions and comments. A public forum will be held shortly so that citizens of the Town, and those who benefit from its services, will be able to learn the facts and voice their opinion to government.

Please view the letters written to the various Department Heads and Ministers about this situation.

Department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
December 8, 2008

Department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
December 18, 2008

Deputy Warden Jimmy MacAlpine
Property Valuation Services Corporation
December 18, 2008

Warden Lloyd Hines, President
Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities
December 18, 2008