If you live in Dieppe, get ready to pay more taxes in 2017

Homeowners in Dieppe are going to see their property taxes go up 1.25 per cent in 2017, which represents an annual increase of $37 for the average house valued at $185,000.

The increase was announced at Dieppe city council on Monday evening, as the city adopted its 2017 budget.

Mayor Yvon Lapierre said he is comfortable with the increase.

"It's less than the cost of inflation," said Lapierre.

"Like every organization, we have increases we have to take care of. We will continue to be the second lowest tax rate among the cities in New Brunswick. Only Fredericton has a lower rate of tax."

Residents can also expect to see their water and sewer bill go up another $16, the same increase as in 2016, up to $916.

Next year rates will increase by $41.

Rapid growth

Dieppe, New Brunswick's fourth largest city, has grown 25 per cent in the last five years, more than anywhere else in the province.

"Everybody says when you're growing you're getting more money, but also there's larger expectation of spending. People expect more. They expect better because it's a newer community," said Lapierre.

A large chunk of the $66.2 million budget an increase of about sixper cent from 2016 will go towards infrastructure.

"Over the last few years, we fixed some roads, and now we have to pay the bill," said Lapierre.

"That's one of the major increases that we're going to have to endure over the next few years."

But there are also future investments, like $6 million for costs around the opening of a new kindergarten to Grade 8 school on Dieppe Bouleveardslated for a fall 2018 opening.

Lapierre said the new school means roadwork to extend Dieppe Boulevardand expand the water and sewer system.

''With the school coming, there will also be a lot of new housing coming up. Young couples when they start looking where they're going to buy a home or build a home, they often look for the next step, which is having children and where they're going to go to school,'' said Lapierre.

The replacement of the Centennial Arenaestimated at $7.5 million, also slated for 2018 opening, is another major project in the works.