2026 Budget Update 

 Growth and Affordability in Harvey 

Harvey Rural Community is growing with more than 4,200 residents, and with that comes both opportunities and pressures. Each year, Council prepares a budget that helps us maintain the services our community relies on, while also planning for the future. 

We know affordability is top-of-mind for many residents. Rising costs of fuel, food, housing, and utilities impact not only families but also municipal operations. Council remains focused on balancing the need to invest in long-term infrastructure with keeping taxes affordable for residents.

Did you know? Harvey is among the most affordable municipalities in New Brunswick, with one of the lowest combined household municipal tax burdens, low utility user rates, and is essentially debt-free. 

What’s in the Budget? 

Every tax dollar collected in Harvey helps support the essential services and amenities that make our community safe and welcoming. Examples include: 

• Police, Fire Protection, and Emergency Measures 
• Waste collection and landfill diversion 
• By-law, Building Inspection, Planning and growth management 
• Recreation facilities, libraries, parks, and community programming 
• Debt servicing and infrastructure renewal 
• Culture, heritage, and community initiatives 

Your Dollars at Work: The Budget Process 

1. Budget planning begins each year with input from staff and committees. 
2. Council provides strategic direction in the fall, based on resident needs, feedback, and long-term strategic and capital planning goals. 
3. The Province releases assessment values, which help establish the tax base used to calculate bills. 
4. Council finalizes the budget in November, so it is ready to take effect January 1. 

Harvey is required by law to present a balanced budget. We can’t spend more than we bring in, and we can’t generate surpluses. 

We manage two budgets: 

• The General Fund – covers municipal services like fire protection, waste collection, parks, and community planning. 
• The Utility Fund – funded by sewer user rates only, ensures safe wastewater management. 

Government of New Brunswick Property Tax Freeze: What It Means for You 

The Province has introduced a one-year property assessment freeze for residential, non-residential, and industrial properties. This means the assessed value of your property, which helps determine how much tax you pay, will not increase this year. 

Here’s what residents should know: 

• Assessment values don’t directly determine your tax bill; they establish the tax base. Your actual bill is calculated using a tax rate applied to that value. 
• Normally, assessment increases help offset inflation and allow municipalities to flatten the tax rate. With the freeze in place, inflationary pressures may instead be managed by cutting services, delaying projects or raising the municipal tax rate. 
• Municipalities, including Harvey, remain hopeful that the Province’s broader Property Tax Reform initiative will bring greater clarity and predictability in the years ahead. 

What We’ve Done Recently 

Your municipal budget supports upgrades and community projects that enhance life in Harvey. Highlights from the past year include: 

Looking Ahead 

• New picnic tables, benches, and community spaces. 
• Upgrades to Taylor Field drainage, soccer fields, and walking trail connections. 
• Fire Protection Tanker replacement and new remote Brockway Hydrant and community park
• Partnership projects with local organizations to expand recreation opportunities in areas like Lake George Campground and Fens Prince William. 
• Continued work on land preservation and housing development initiatives to support growth.
• Launch of new recreation programs and community events based on resident input. 

The 2026 budget will continue to focus on: 

• Maintaining core services residents rely on. 
• Planning for growth in housing and recreation. 
• Investing in infrastructure renewal. 
• Keeping affordability and sustainability top of mind. 

Council is committed to transparency throughout the budget process and will continue to share updates with residents as decisions are made through publicly broadcasted meetings.