ARICHAT - The Warden of Richmond County is pleased that her municipal council has struck a balance between pursuing an aggressive development agenda despite sticking to the prudent fiscal management that has resulted in a balanced budget with no tax increases. 

The residential tax rate will once again remain at $0.85 per $100 of assessment for the 2023-24 fiscal year, while the commercial tax rate stays at $2.15 per $100 of assessment for the same period. Mombourquette credited a rise in assessment revenue during the previous year for the county's ability to maintain its tax rates at these levels. 

At the same time, the warden noted that policing and public works costs are continuing to rise, making the budget process a difficult task for Richmond officials. But the county is still hoping to make major moves in the coming year, including the next stage of seeking a replacement multi-purpose facility for Richmond County to take the place of the aging Richmond Arena in Whiteside Road. 

Also this week on TELILE 24/7: 

* 1:47 - Richmond MLA Trevor Boudreau, who hosted a Community Engagement Session at the Rocky Bay Irish Hall regarding a new management plan for Pondville Beach Provincial Park from Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNRR), discusses the collaborative effort between 90 local residents and several DNRR officials from across the province on the evening of June 21. 

* 25:00 - Paul MacLean, the managing director of Point Tupper-based Bear Head Energy, speaks of his company's desire to hold open houses in Arichat on June 21 and St. Peter's on June 22, as well as the recent federal environmental approvals that will allow his company to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia for global markets at a site that was once pinning its hopes on liquefied natural gas (LNG). 

* 34:27 - The chair of the Save Pondville Beach Provincial Park community campaign, Lisa Boudreau, offers her thoughts on the community engagement session held by DNRR officials in Rocky Bay on June 21 and expresses hope that the collaborative effort shown at this meeting will lead to positive developments in Pondville over the weeks and months to come.