The City of Saint John must produce an annual budget in order to set property tax rates and water rates. The annual budgets must be balanced with no projected deficit. The City of Saint John maintains a General Operating Budget, Utility Fund Operating Budget and General Fund and Utility Fund Capital Budgets. The Operating Budget funds municipal services such as road maintenance, parks, emergency services (police and fire), and garbage collection, and many other services.
Saint John Water budget based on a user pay system. Rate payers are charged based on the Utility’s cost of providing services to each class of rate payers. Saint John Water currently has two classes of customers which are Potable Water Customers who receive treated drinkable water along with sewerage services and Industrial Customers who receive raw water only.
The City and Utility Fund Capital Budget goes toward maintaining and rehabilitating existing infrastructure, as well as investing in new development that will benefit residents and businesses for years to come and contribute to Saint John’s economy and quality of life.