Tax reform dead on arrival
Posted Jan 26, 2010 03:51:44 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HRM’s attempt at tax reform has died in a 13-10 vote at regional council Tuesday.
“I’m very pleased with it because it was an unfair tax reform,” says Dartmouth Centre councillor Gloria McCluskey.
“And I believe people live where they do so that’s their choice, you make a choice to live in a certain place and you pay the taxes that go along with living there.
The reform looked to move from an assessment-based model of taxation to one based on services.
A group of councillors under the umbrella of the Harbour East community council led by McCluskey became determined to support the status quo — issuing a statement last week that they would not support tax reform.
The vote ends talk of tax reform in Halifax.
South End councillor Sue Uteck voted for the tax reform bill.
“What’s disappointing is we were just voting on the principals to move forward, there was no action plan at this point,” says Uteck.
“I’m deeply disappointed that the mayor voted against tax reform of any sort.”
Mayor Peter Kelly says he voted to kill the tax reform talks because it wasn’t in the best interests of the majority of residents.
Voting results
Against:
Peter Kelly (Mayor) *vote is only counted in case of a tie*
Steve Streatch (Eastern Shore-Musquodoboit Valley)
Lorelei Nicoll (Cole Harbour)
Gloria McCluskey (Dartmouth Centre)
Darren Fisher (East Dartmouth-The Lakes)
Bill Karsten (Portland-East Woodlawn)
Jackie Barkhouse (Woodside-Eastern Passage)
Jim Smith (Albro Lake-Harbourview)
Jerry Blumenthal (North End)
Dawn Sloane (Downtown)
Jennifer Watts (Quinpool)
Russell Walker (Fairview-Clayton Park)
Linda Mosher (Purcell’s Cove-Armdale)
Stephen Adams (Spryfield-Herring Cove)
For:
Sue Uteck (South End)
Peter Lund (Hammonds Plains – St. Margaret’s)
Tim Outhit (Bedford)
Mary Wile (Clayton Park West)
David Hendsbee (Preston-Lawrencetown-Chezzetcook)
Barry Dalrymple (Waverley – Fall River – Beaver Bank)
Bob Harvey (Lower Sackville)
Brad Johns (Middle and Upper Sackville – Lucasville)
Debbie Hum (Rockingham – Wentworth)
Reg Rankin (Timberlea – Prospect)
