Halifax council budget: Tax bill increases, funding for fire station, crossing guards

CITYnews halifax / By Natasha O’Neill and Chris Halef

Halifax Regional Municipality’s Council approved the municipal budget on Tuesday including funding for projects like a 24/7 fire station, climate initiatives and community safety programs.

Council also approved an average residential tax bill increase of 6.3 per cent. For the average single-family home with a value of $323,300, the increase will be roughly $214. This includes all levies like general property taxes, area charges and provincial contributions.

“Our approach in this budgeting process has been to balance the demand and cost of services while aligning spending with Regional Council’s priorities and being fiscally responsible,” Cathie O’Toole, Chief Administrative Officer, said in a press release.

The budget funds costs associated with the region, including municipal operations, council-approved initiatives, investments and the construction and rehabilitation of city assets.

Council approved an operating budget of $1.04 billion and a capital budget of $306.5 million.

Some of the highlights from the region’s strategic priorities include:

• $2 million for a 24/7 fire station conversion in Hammonds Plains
• Funding for 22 new Halifax Regional Police positions and six new Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers
• $2.3 million in continued Community Safety programs and new positions
• Funding for 10 new crossing guard positions
• $7.5 million in budgeted tax relief for non-profit and charitable organizations
• $18.6 million for capital projects as part of HalifACT: Acting on Climate Together
• $271 million for the Mill Cove Ferry Terminal project
• $2.4 million for funding of the Integrated Mobility Plan 

Starting with this budget, the municipality will not collect and remit taxes to the Province of Nova Scotia for Housing and Corrections — this previously would have been included in the “provincial rate” section.

“It was a challenging budget debate, through which I believe Council managed to support growth, maintain services and meet significant commitments to our communities,” Mayor Mike Savage said in a press release.