Questions and Answers

1. What does amalgamation mean?

This means to combine two or more municipal units and Councils into one unit with one Council

2. Would we lose our identity as Shelburne?

No, Shelburne would continue to exist as a community, in the same way that Liverpool exists within Queens.

3. Are there options for us to maintain specific representation and /or tailored services for Shelburne, within the amalgamation option?

Yes, a Village is created within a municipality for the purpose of furnishing higher levels of mu-nicipal services to a more populated area of a rural municipality. For example New Minas is a Village and part of the Municipality of Kings. Councils may also create Community Committees to advise them on appropriate service levels for an area.

4. How does amalgamation occur?

The Utility and Review Board studies the municipalities and decides how costs are allocated within a new amalgamation, or the two municipalities negotiate an agreement that is passed as a Private Members Bill.

5. Would amalgamating save money and keep taxes down?

We don’t know yet. That is part of what the current project is designed to tell us. While we won’t be able to give specific answers to the taxation question (see question # 4), we should be able to determine whether savings are feasible. note: from newsletter 1; see newer posts