While Jan. 1 has the distinction of being the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars, the former promulgated by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C., the latter by Pope Gregory XIII in A.D. 1582, many of us move to a somewhat different internal rhythm where we know the “real” new year’s day is after Labour Day – Friday, Sept. 10 this year – which marks the resumption of classes at R.D. Parker Collegiate until next June.

Let’s face it; New Year’s Day is an artificial construct – and a badly placed one to boot here in Northern Manitoba – coming a week after Christmas in the dead of winter.

But the rhythm telling us early September marks a new year is undeniable. Northern Manitobans take their summer holidays very seriously. One wonders in August just how many members of the workforce of Vale’s Manitoba Operations have exited Thompson for a trip back home to The Rock, a.k.a. Newfoundland? September is a different story. Early mornings are crisper, daytime highs not as high and sunsets earlier and everyone’s back to work.

There are other sure signs a new year is upon as well. Training camp has begun and the Norman Northstars AAA midgets are lacing up for their return to the rink for another season, while the 18th annual Health and Leisure Mart is slated for Friday Sept. 10 and Saturday, Sept. 11 at the Thompson Regional Community Centre.

And while we well know our summer priorities here in Thompson – namely fishing, boating and campfires at Paint Lake (and even in town now with a fire permit) – we also know it’s almost time with Labour Day soon upon us to start thinking about our municipal elections for city council and school board, which are exactly eight weeks away on Wednesday, Oct. 27.

Last April, council invoked Section 78 of the Municipal Act to add an eighth councillor, along with the mayor, for a nine-member council, reverting to the size council was until the early 1990s when they dropped a seat.

While nominations can’t be filed until Sept. 15, the campaign periods for both mayor and council were open as of June 30. Two months later, it is time now, we would suggest, for candidates for council and trustees for the School District of Mystery Lake to step forward.

The city council and school trustees we elect in October will serve for the next four years. That’s a long time. As we noted here July 7, one of the best ways to begin to think about where we want to see the City of Thompson go between now and October 2014 is to think about where we have been over the last four years; the kind of local issues we have faced; and the local governance we have enjoyed or endured, depending on one’s view. The same is true for school board.

The school board’s budget for this year is $37.537 million, compared to $36.539 last year.

The average residential taxpayer in the City of Thompson is facing a 4.32 per cent tax increase this year – before two additional special levies – after the city’s budget increased by $9.75 million to $35.248 million. Most of the budget increase was to cover capital costs for continued work on the Thompson Regional Community Centre, which may or may not be deferred during the year ahead. Last year's budget was $25.497 million.

As well, this council is in the final stages of charging through metering for the first time in the 54-year history of Thompson for the distribution of drinking water to local residents. Vale supplies the city’s water under the December 1956 founding agreement, but the distribution cost once the water moves beyond the Vale property line is paid for by the municipality at a cost about $1.5 million annually.

That water is believed to represent about 17 per cent of the current municipal property tax bill, although it will be up to the Public Utilities Board to make the final determination on whether or not that is actually the case. Water supply and treatment will continue to be provided by Vale Inco after metering begins. Thompson is one of a handful of municipalities in Manitoba not to have a water utility. The Public Utilities Board will have to approve, amend or reject the water rates recommended by the city for the new utility after public hearings this fall.

Municipal elections are very much, as we have said, a referendum on the performance of the incumbents. Ultimately voters will be assigning a pass/fail grade on the incumbents who choose to seek re-election and are challenged.

Lots to think about in the weeks ahead. Meantime, it’s September. Happy New Year!