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PCSP 2027 Budget Survey

The Town of Portugal Cove – St. Philip’s is preparing its 2027 Municipal Budget, and we want residents to help identify the priorities that matter most.
Municipal budgeting involves choices. Council must balance maintaining existing services and infrastructure, responding to community needs, planning for the future, and keeping municipal taxes and fees affordable.
This short survey is designed to help Council understand where residents believe investment should be prioritized — and where spending could be maintained, reduced or approached differently.
The survey should take approximately 5 – 8 minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous and will be summarized for Council as part of the 2027 budget deliberations.
1.Residency
How long have you lived in Portugal Cove – St. Philip’s?
2.What are the age ranges of individuals in your household? (Select all that apply)
3.Which of the following describes your connection to PCSP? Select all that apply
Your 2027 Budget Priorities
4.Thinking about the 2027 Budget overall, which approach should Council prioritize?
Multiple Choice – one answer
5.If additional revenue is required to maintain municipal services, which approach would you prefer Council consider FIRST?
Multiple Choice – one answer
6.If Council could increase investment in only THREE areas in 2027, which should receive the highest priority?
Checkboxes – maximum 3
7.If the Town needed to reduce or defer spending, which THREE areas would you be most willing to see reduced, deferred or delivered differently?
Checkboxes – maximum 3
Municipal Services
8.Overall, how satisfied are you with the value you receive from municipal services for the taxes and fees you pay?
9.Which THREE municipal services or areas do you believe need the most improvement?
Checkboxes – maximum 3
Infrastructure & Future Investment
10.When funding is limited, which approach should the Town generally prioritize?
Multiple Choice
11.Looking ahead over the next 3 – 5 years, which FIVE infrastructure investments should receive the highest priority?
Checkboxes – maximum 5
Recreation, Programs & Events
12.When considering recreation spending, where should the Town place the greatest priority?
Multiple Choice – one answer
13.Which approach best reflects how you would like the Town to handle community events?
Multiple Choice
Economic Development
14.Which economic development activities should the Town prioritize? Select up to THREE.
Checkboxes – maximum 3
You Set the Budget

Property taxes are based on two separate factors. The Municipal Assessment Agency (MAA), independent of the Town, determines the assessed value of properties in Portugal Cove – St. Philip's. Town Council does not determine property assessments.

Each year, Council sets the Town's mil rate as part of the municipal budget process. The mil rate is applied to the assessed value of a property to calculate property tax. As a result, a change in a property's assessed value does not necessarily mean that Council has increased the mil rate.
15.When considering property tax affordability, which is MOST important to you?
Multiple Choice – one answer
16.If property assessments increase across the Town, which approach would you prefer Council consider when setting the 2027 mil rate?
Multiple Choice – one answer
17.Before this survey, how familiar were you with the difference between your property assessment and the Town's mil rate?
18.Imagine you are Council and you have a total budget of $100 to invest in municipal priorities. How would you divide it?
Your $100
Roads, sidewalks & transportation
Snow clearing & ice control
Parks, trails & recreation
Fire & emergency services
Community programs & events
Economic development
Environment & climate resilience
Municipal facilities & infrastructure
Looking Ahead
19.Which ONE issue do you believe will be the biggest challenge facing PCSP over the next five years?
Multiple Choice
20.What ONE improvement would make the biggest positive difference in your daily life in Portugal Cove – St. Philip’s?
21.Is there an area where you believe the Town could spend municipal tax dollars more effectively? Please tell us what you would change.
Thank You

Thank you for taking the time to share your input.

Your feedback will be summarized and presented to Council during budget deliberations. The results will help Council better understand residents' priorities as it considers municipal services, infrastructure investment and affordability.

For full information on Budget 2027, please visit our website, https://pcsp.ca/your-government/budget-tax-structure/