Public Hearing Notice - Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board

IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION by the MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF ST. MARY’S, on behalf of Sherbrooke Water Utility, for approval of amendment to its Schedule of Rates and Charges for Water and Water Services and amendments to its Schedule of Rules and Regulations. This matter will be considered in a public hearing as follows:

Hearing Starts: Monday March 31, 2025 at 11:00 am
Evening Session: Monday, March 31, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Hearing Location: St. Mary's Municipality Council Chambers, 8296 Hwy 7, Sherbrooke Nova Scotia

THE DATE AND LOCATION OF THE HEARING MAY CHANGE
If any Intervenor in this proceeding intends to file evidence, the timeline will be extended to accommodate this, and the hearing date will be rescheduled.
Depending on the circumstances, all or part of this public hearing may be held virtually, by video conferencing.
THE DATE, TIME AND LOCATION FOR THIS HEARING MAY BE CONFIRMED BY VISITING THE BOARD’S WEBSITE OR BY CONTACTING THE CLERK OF THE BOARD.

Board Hearings are open to the public and you may participate as follows:
• You may speak at the hearing. You must notify the Board by Thursday, March 13, 2025, of your request to speak.
• You may make written comments by sending a letter to the Clerk of the Board at P.O. Box 1692, Unit “M”, Halifax, NS B3J 3S3, or by email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by fax at (902) 424-3919 by Thursday, March 13, 2025.
• You may request formal standing as an Intervenor, subject to Board approval. This will allow you to present evidence or cross-examine witnesses. Your request must be received by the Board by Thursday, February 6, 2025, and a copy of your written evidence by Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Additional information about the matter is as follows:
For a 5/8 meter, residential customer, the average current quarterly water bill is $146.49, and it is proposed to be amended to $187.95 (a 28.3% increase) in 2025/26; $205.10 (a 9.1% increase) in 2026/27; and $224.45 (a 9.4% increase) in 2027/28.
The Utility also requests amendments for other metered services ranging from 23.7% to 54.7% in 2025/26; 8.2% to 12.7% in 2026/27; and 8.5% to 12.9% in 2027/28.
Upon reviewing the Application, the Board, in its Decision, may determine that the proposed amendments should be as requested, higher, or lower.
A copy of the Application and any timetable applying to this matter may be viewed on the Board’s website at http://nsuarb.novascotia.ca/, by clicking on "Matters & Evidence", “Go To Files & Documents”, and in the "Go Directly to Matter” search box, enter Matter No. M12019, or at the offices of the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s, 8296 Highway #7, Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia.

To view or download the Public Hearing Notice click the link below:
pdf Hearing Notice Sherbrooke Water Utility 2024 (109 KB)

Community Post: Culture Club Sherbrooke

The Culture Club Sherbrooke is holding an Artist Group Show at Culture Club Sherbrooke
Opening Reception: Friday January 31, 2025
Artists: Tom Lowe and Friedhelm Wolfrat
If you are not ale to join the opening but would like to visit the International Artist Group Show call for an appointment. The show is running until Saturday March 15, 2025.
Meinhard Pfanner
Gallery 17
17 Main Street, Sherbrooke NS B0J 3C0
Phone:1-902-318-1699 Email: ccs21@,mail.com 

2025 Property Assessment Notices Are Available

Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC) has mailed out the 2025 property assessment notices.

For inquiries about your 2025 Property Assessment Notice visit: www.pvsc.ca call: 1-800-380-7775 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

ECRL Renovations Notice

The Eastern Counties Regional Library in Sherbrooke will be temporarily closed from Monday, January 13th to Friday, January 17th for accessibility upgrades. During this time, The Municipality is working to improve the accessibility of our facilities to better serve all members of our community. Improvements will include new automatic touch door access. The Municipality apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciates your understanding. The library will reopen on Saturday, January 18th. Thank you for your patience and continued support!

The Municipality continues to make progress on renewing Construction & Demolition (C&D) services

Radio message and interview with Warden, James Fuller on 98.9 XFM
Please be advised that the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s is diligently working on effective solutions to ensure safe and convenient residential C&D waste removal. We are committed to keeping our neighborhoods clean and sustainable while providing you with the necessary resources to manage this waste.
Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming improvements to our waste management services. Thank you for your patience and cooperation!
To visit 98.9 XFM’s website and listen to the article please visit the link below:
https://www.989xfm.ca/district-of-st-marys-to-seek-bids-to-remove-construction-and-demolition-debris-from-the-local-transfer-station/

Municipal Low Income Tax Exemption

Municipal Low Income Property Tax Exemption
St. Mary's Municipal Council offers a rebate on property tax bills for those whose income is below a specified threshold. The threshold amount is determined by Council on an annual basis. Review the Low Income Tax Exemption (290 KB)  application to determine if you qualify. A copy of your previous year’s "Notice of Assessment – Canada Revenue Agency" must be included with your application.

The Provincial Property Tax Rebate for Seniors
This program, administered by Service Nova Scotia on behalf of the Department of Community Services, is designed to help eligible seniors remain in their homes by providing an annual rebate on their municipal property taxes. Provincial Property Tax Rebate forms are available at the Municipal Office . The deadline to apply is December 31st, 2024. Call 902-522-2049 for more information