Fort Resolution’s administrator says he has been tasked with eliminating well over $1 million in debt by March 2030. Some changes are on the way.
In an update published online on Thursday, administrator Tom Beaulieu said the hamlet’s latest year-end accounts showed a combined deficit of $1.67 million as of March 31.
The hamlet also has a shortfall of $1 million in its capital accounts, Beaulieu stated.
“While some progress has been made in addressing the deficit, at the current debt repayment pace, it could be many years before the deficit is fully addressed,” his update added.
As a result, according to the update, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs “has asked the administrator to find ways to cut costs so that the deficit is fully erased by the end of the 2029-30 fiscal year.”
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A debt management plan now exists to address the deficit, which includes repaying debts owed to both the NWT government and Canada Revenue Agency.
Beaulieu said the hamlet will increase water rates and garbage pick-up fees – which, the update asserted, have not gone up for a decade – while finding ways to cut the cost of delivering municipal services.
More: Do some NWT communities have a deficit problem?
Fort Resolution has been under administration since the GNWT decided to replace its mayor and council with a territorially appointed manager in the summer of 2023. Beaulieu took on the role in July 2024.
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There is no timeline for the community to move back out of administration.
When that happens, Beaulieu is hoping two changes will be made to the hamlet’s political structure.
He said he is working on changing bylaws to end staggered terms – when half of council is elected one year and half the next – to instead have all councillors serve the same two-year term.
He also wants to cut the council from a mayor and six councillors to a mayor and four others.
“These changes will allow council to have more time to achieve its goals, reduce the frequency of elections, eliminate the need to re-orientate council annually, and reduce overall governance expenses,” Beaulieu wrote.
Thursday’s update stated some improvements had taken place despite Fort Resolution’s financial peril – occasionally by leaning on grants from non-profits and other levels of government.
A new water truck is being purchased, some roads have been improved, and many vehicles and pieces of heavy equipment have been repaired, Beaulieu stated.
