Strait Talk Episode 21

Former Richmond Warden and long-time municipal councillor James Goyetche, who lost his re-election bid in the 2020 municipal election, tells Civic Journalist Jake Boudrot why he wants to return to Richmond Municipal Council as the representative for District 1, which covers part of Arichat, as well as Alderney Point, Little Anse, Boudreauville, Petit de Grat, and Cap Auguet.

First elected in 1982, Goyetche served as a councillor for 23 years and worked in municipal government for five years. A life-long resident of Petit de Grat, Goyetche said he’s retired but has always maintained a strong interest in local government.

“I’ve always been concerned about taxes. That’s my main concern,” he explained. “I’d like to provide a certain level of service to the taxpayers at a reasonable tax rate.”

With affordability being a major issue, especially for the many seniors in his district, Goyetche emphasized the importance of keeping municipal taxes as low as possible.

“When you look at it now, in this day and age, we have a senior population,” he noted. “I think Isle Madame may have about 60 percent seniors on fixed incomes, so I’d like to keep the tax rate affordable for them.”

Goyetche also pointed out that rising property assessments and increasing taxes are a concern for many in the area.

“We had an increase of five cents in the tax rate over the last four years,” he said. “That in itself is not drastic, but when you combine it with property assessments going up over 25 percent in the same period, it means taxpayers in Richmond County are paying a lot more in taxes.”