Residential and commercial mill rates in the City of Mount Pearl will be holding steady in 2024.

The mill rate remains set at 7.7 for residential properties and 12.4 mills for businesses.

Water and wastewater fees will be going up for the first time in 14 years and will increase by $25 per household and 0.1 mills for commercial.

Residents living on fixed incomes who receive the federal GIS supplement will be eligible for a 25 per cent discount to reduce their property tax payments.

Mayor Dave Aker says housing issues have been a hot topic over the past few years, and says the city plans to ensure they have enough options to meet the demand.

He says work is already underway to convert the area north of Topsail Road, known as Northlands-Kenmount Road, into a new neighbourhood within the next twenty years.

A review of current Metrobus routes and an expansion of service to Donovan’s Industrial Park is also in the offing with $150,000 earmarked for public transportation.

Aker says the two routes currently running through Mount Pearl are full, so they’ll be looking to review timing and frequency. A new route to Donovan’s is something businesses have been asking for. He says the priority used to be on providing transportation options outside of the city, but that’s changed. Now, more people are looking to come into Mount Pearl to work.