Town of Kentville Council has approved the 2026–2027 capital and operating budgets, aligned with Council’s strategic priorities and long-term focus on infrastructure, facilities, and responsible growth.

Council approved an Operating Budget of $20,595,007 and a Capital Budget of $10,520,900.

To ensure the safety and well‑being of residents, visitors, and businesses, Town of Kentville focuses on three core priorities:
1. Road maintenance and quality
Due to harsh winter conditions and high traffic volumes, maintaining safe and reliable roads and sidewalks is a primary concern. Extensive effort is required year‑round, from snow plowing and ice control to patching, paving, line painting, and sidewalk maintenance, to ensure transportation infrastructure remains safe and accessible for all users.
2. Water and wastewater systems
Sustainable water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure is essential to protect the environment, support community growth, and ensure public health. Maintaining, upgrading, and expanding sanitary sewers, water mains, and storm sewer systems requires significant and ongoing investment to meet regulatory requirements and future development demands.
3. Kentville Police Services (KPS)
Over the past two years, Kentville Police Services has experienced a 24.3% increase in call volume. Notably, there has been growth in calls related to wellness checks, suspicious persons, loitering, mental health concerns, and liquor‑related offences. KPS continues to work closely with community partners to develop collaborative responses and proactive solutions to address these evolving service demands while maintaining community safety.

Town of Kentville is committed to serving the community by fostering inclusion, supporting local organizations and volunteers, providing accessible facilities and programs, and protecting the natural environment.
1. Recreation and social spaces
Town of Kentville programs, events, and facilities are designed to be accessible and inclusive. Town departments work closely with the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee and the IDEA Coordinator to continuously improve accessibility, inclusion, and participation across recreation, culture, and community spaces.
2. Support for volunteers and local groups
Kentville recognizes the vital role volunteers and community organizations play in building a strong, connected community. The Town supports volunteers and local groups through community grants, economic development support, collaboration on events and activities, and a volunteer recognition program that acknowledges and celebrates community contributions.
3. Environmental stewardship
Protecting the natural environment is a key municipal responsibility. Kentville supports environmental stewardship through initiatives such as the Hemlock Conservation Project, which protects local forest ecosystems, and partnerships with organizations like the Clean Foundation on projects including natural stormwater management, sustainability initiatives, and long term energy planning.
4. Growth & Development
The Plan Review is shaping Kentville’s future, creating a clear vision for where and how the Town will grow over the next 10–20 years, while aligning development with infrastructure, environment, and community needs.

Town of Kentville maintained one of the most stable residential tax rates among comparable towns from 2020/21 through 2025/26. Its rate remained consistently lower than most peers, with only modest changes early in the period followed by multiple years of stability, while several other towns introduced larger or later increases.

Source: https://data.novascotia.ca/Municipalities/Municipal-Property-Tax-Rates-Average-Property-Tax-/

The approved 4-cent or 2.8% adjustment to the residential tax rate has a modest impact on the average residential account. The tax rate increase on residential assessments balances the Operating Budget and supports the services residents rely on. For the average residential home assessed at $265,454, the impact is approximately $106 per year or $9 per month.

The examples below show the estimated impact on typical residential accounts at different assessment values.

• Home assessed at $375,000: impact of approximately $150 per year or $13 per month.
• Home assessed at $550,000: impact of approximately $220 per year or $18 per month.
• Home assessed at $700,000: impact of approximately $280 per year or $23 per month.