Killarney-Turtle Mountain Mayor Rick Pauls is concerned about their upcoming budget.

After a few years of increasing assessments and higher taxes Pauls thinks it will be a challenge preparing the 2017 budget.

“We had some pretty upset ratepayers and I don't blame them because for some their tax bills were up by as much as 40%.”

Pauls notes there is a shift in the tax base because of higher assessments and rural ratepayers are picking up more of the expenses.

I know assessment are still on rise and that will impact the next budget. “Council has done what it can to adjust mill rates and we took in an extra 1.8% in revenue last year and it could another 2% this year.

“We are looking for ways to level things out but it is difficult and we aren't alone because a number of municipalities are in the same situation.”