Conception Bay South is the latest municipality to ask residents to shoulder a little more of the town’s financial strain.

In what’s become a common theme this budget cycle, towns and cities are citing tighter economic times for slight increases in mill rates and fees.

In C.B.S., the mill rate is up by 0.3 up to 7.6, while the commercial rate remains 11.5.

Some recreation fees are going up and there’s a new field maintenance charge for sports groups.

There’s also a nod to housing with permit fees reduced or eliminated and a focus on quicker approvals for multi-unit developments.

The mill rate increase translates to about $90 more a year for a $300,000 home.

Mayor Darrin Bent says while no one wants to increase property taxes, he says C.B.S. kept them lower than most.

“It’s our view, based on the total cost for residents, that is the lowest increase for any of the major municipalities on the northeast Avalon this year,” he said. “So we have been able to shield the residents of Conception Bay South from higher taxes through good financial management, cutting debt and so forth. So even though we’re not in competition, it comes in lower than the other municipalities around us.”

Overall, the C.B.S. budget came in at just over $42 million, a 7.2-per cent increase over last year.

With a population of just over 27,000, C.B.S. remains the second largest municipality in the province.