The following information was presented at community information sessions / open houses on June 19, 20th an 26th.

2. WHAT IS A LOCAL SERVICE DISTRICT?
• A local service district or LSD is managed by the provincial government.
• It may have a volunteer advisory committee or not. The advisory committee
has no authority over the community and no responsibility for the
community.
• The provincial minister of local government has final say on all rules,
regulations and tax rates in an LSD. Provincial employees administer the
community on behalf of the minister.
• Community zoning is done through a rural plan that is administered by the
Regional Service Commission.

3. HOW PROPERTY TAXES WORK
Residential property taxes are based on two things:
1) Assessed value of the property. This is controlled by the province.
2) The tax rate. In an LSD, this is entirely controlled by the province. It is expressed
as cents charged per $100 of assessed value. Our current rate is 83 cents.
3) Example:
A home assessed at $100,000 pays $830 in property taxes in 2013.

4. THE TAX RATE IN OUR COMMUNITY
1) Our tax rate is 83 cents per $100
2) The portion for local services such as garbage
collection and fire protection is 25.16 cents of the 83
cents.
3) The provincial portion is 57.84 cents

5. AVERAGE TAXES IN OUR COMMUNITY
Year Average Assessed Value Average Tax Bill
2011 $131,464 $1171
2012 $145,597 $1272
2013 $165,424 $1448
The average homeowner in our community is paying about 23% more in
property taxes in 2013 than in 2011.

6. THE LSD BUDGET
Service Cost
Administration $19,448
Rural Planning $64,624
Cost of Assessment $47,627
Fire Protection $173,939
Police Services $110,924
Dog Control $7,862
Recreation $1,400
Solid Waste $233,310
Total $659,134

7. CURRENT STATE OF RUSAGONIS-WAASIS LSD
Population
2011 3,318 residents
2006 2,747 residents
20.8% growth
Property value
2012: $245 million.
2007: $136 million
80% growth in five years.
With a population of more than 3,000 residents and a property tax base
greater than $200 million dollars Rusagonis-Waasis has sufficient human
and fiscal capacity to establish a viable Rural Community.

8. FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR OUR COMMUNITY
• We are one of the fastest growing communities in the province
• The value of properties in our community is rising rapidly, making
us an attractive target for other cash-strapped municipalities.
• Over the past five years, the provincial government has become
concerned about the sustainability of local government. This led
to studies such as the Finn Report, which recommended we
become part of a regional municipality based around Oromocto.

9. THE RURAL COMMUNITY PROJECT

10. WHAT IS A RURAL COMMUNITY?
• Is a form of municipal government
• Has a locally elected mayor and council
• The authority to own land, buildings, infrastructure and
equipment.
• Better access to federal and provincial funding programs, and
authority to borrow for capital projects.
• Puts community decisions in the hands of community members
• Has oversight over land use planning and zoning

11. TIMELINE
• Informal discussions began in 2011
• Worked with the province to learn more about the model
• A volunteer group known as the steering committee met over the
course of two years to discuss the benefits and costs of a rural
community
• A preliminary feasibility study was requested in spring 2012.
• The study began in spring 2013 and completed in June 2013
• Widespread community discussion on the concept begin in
Spring / Summer 2013.

12. ABOUT THE PROPOSED RURAL COMMUNITY
• The entire LSD of Rusagonis-Waasis and a small portion of the LSD of
Gladstone that is accessed through Rusagonis-Waasis, would together
form the Rural Community.
• The name of the Rural Community would be Rusagonis-Waasis, but
existing civic/postal addresses and community names would not change.
• The council would consist of a mayor and four councilors. Mayor would be
elected by the entire community, councilors would be elected according to
a ward system.

13. WHAT SERVICES WOULD THE RURAL
COMMUNITY PROVIDE?
• Land-use planning
• Emergency measures
• Recreation and Community Services
• Administration

14. WHAT SERVICES WOULD THE PROVINCE
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE?
• Police and fire protection
• Garbage
• Roads
• Animal Control

15. WHAT WOULD A RURAL COMMUNITY COST?
• The cost of forming a rural community is approximately
$102,460.
• This equals an increase of 1.15 cents per $100 of assessed
value for a residential homeowner.

16. IMPACT ON PROPERTY TAXES
Property type 2013
Tax Rate
2013
Tax Bill
2014 Impact 2015
Impact
Residential
(Owner-
Occupied)
$.83 $830 +$11 -$18
Residential
(Non-Owner-
Occupied)
$1.65 $1,651 +$6 -$23
Other
Residential
(Farms,
Woodlots)
$1.65 $1,651 +$6 -$23
Business $2.48 $2,480 +$17 -$26
*Tax bill value and impact based on a home valued at
$100,000

17. NEXT STEPS
• Community-wide consultation and discussion on the feasibility of a rural
community. June to August 2013
• Gauge community interest in the concept and decide whether there is sufficient
interest to hold a community-wide vote (plebiscite). August 2013
• If there is sufficient interest, request a plebiscite is held in October 2013
• If a majority of voters support the rural community concept, it would come into
effect on July 1, 2014.
• Municipal elections for mayor and council would be help in May 2014.

18. POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES
• Have a greater say over development so that we can preserve our unique, rural
way of life.
• Work with developers to set aside land for future community use such as parks,
playgrounds or green space.
• Protect and support resources that have been built by volunteer efforts in the
community
• Demonstrate the capacity for local governance and shows that there is no need or
requirement to merge our community with anyone else.

19. POTENTIAL DISADVANTAGES
• There is a small start-up cost to pay for the administration of a rural community.
• Can be sued.
• A rural community council can own land, buildings and can take on debt.
• Has the authority to institute by-laws that can affect community members.

20. QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS?