Chelsea Council Ends the Year

Chelsea Council crammed three last-minute sessions into end-of-year activity, a five-year capital expenditure program, the 2025 budget, and the 2025 tax rate and fee schedule.

The adoption of the capital expenditure program reversed an earlier failure to adopt it.  It endeavors to maintain and modernize infrastructure, to have a positive environmental impact and address climate change, and to promote community services, active mobility, and access to the river.  To make these efforts feasible, it is intended to leverage grants, engage in strategic borrowing, and diversify revenue sources. 

Chelsea’s $28 million budget entails a 5.95 % increase in residential property tax. The municipality’s share of the MRC’s expenditures increases by 10.67%.

These measures were not adopted without controversy.  While Councillor Kimberly Chan made detailed argument in favor of the budget, which she deemed conservative and lean, Rita Jain wanted more control on spending.  Measures passed because of who was present at the meetings.  The earlier failure to pass the five-year plan was due to the absence of Christopher Blais.  His presence at later meetings occurred in the absence of spending critic Enrico Valente. 

As an argument for a leaner budget, Jain addressed the plan to engage an environmental inspector.  She noted that other municipalities combined this role with another.  This kind of attention to individual items was a failure.  A more effective opposition might have been if critics presented an alternative budget and five-year plan.

During question period, residents called for attention to be given to an aquifer.