MELVILLE — Air traffic could be officially grounded for good at the Melville Airport.
After a comprehensive review of the airport's financial performance, safety and liability risks, Melville city council approved a recommendation to close the facility during it's latest meeting on May 20.
The city says the decision is based on increasing operational costs, long-term financial sustainability concerns, and escalating liability risks that, if unaddressed, could pose significant burdens on the city’s budget and reputation.
With council approval, city administration will begin the decommissioning process shortly.
Council also officially approved the mill rates for the 2025 tax year during May 20 meeting.
Council passed all three readings of the 2025 Mill Rate and Base Tax Bylaws, setting the municipal mill rate at 11.707.
At a December meeting, council approved the 2025 operating and capital budget, which included a 3.875 per cent increase in taxes and a 3.89 per cent increase in utilities for 2025.
Taxes are calculated by taking the assessed value and multiplying it by the percentage of value. The resulting figure is the taxable value, which is then multiplied by the mill rate and divided by 1,000 to determine municipal taxes.
The provincial government changed the school mill rate for 2025 to 1.07 per cent for agricultural, 4.27 per cent for residential, 6.37 per cent for commercial/industrial and 7.49 per cent for resource properties.
Tax notices in Melville are expected to be issued by the end of the month, with payment due without penalty by the end of August 2025.
