2022/23 municipal budget approved by council

Halifax regional council has approved a $1.1 billion budget as well as a capital plan of $318.9 million.

The budget comes with a 4.6 per cent increase to the average residential and commercial property tax bill. 

HRM says that means those owning an average single family home will be paying an extra $94 over the course of the year. 

The average commercial property tax bill will go up by $1,989.

Of that 4.6 per cent, 3 per cent goes toward the Climate Action Tax to support HalifACT, which is the municipality's long-term climate action plan.

“The Climate Action Tax will fund projects such as electric vehicles and buses, net-zero buildings, installing public electric vehicle chargers, and taking actions to improve the resiliency of communities and infrastructure against the impacts of climate change – which range from flood mitigation and stormwater management to food security and emergency preparedness,” HRM said in a news release.

Mayor Mike Savage says council must anticipate and act on future challenges, including climate change. 

“We have a strong climate plan (HalifACT) which requires investment. There will be many paybacks for the work we do today, but we must not delay,” he said. “With every budget, our goal is to find a balance between managing tax rates to service our growing population, while investing in important initiatives to serve and improve life for our residents.”

The remaining 1.6 per cent of the increase will go to ongoing operations, public safety, maintenance and service improvements – such as the provincial road transfer – as well as strategic capital investment.

Key programs and capital projects

Halifax Transit

• Electric Bus Procurement and Ragged Lake Transit Centre – $64 million
• Final year of Moving Forward Together Plan implementation – $5 million

Active Transportation & Environment

• Active Transportation – $4 million
• Regional Centre All Ages & Abilities (AAA) Bikeways – $7 million
• HalifACT Climate Action Plan – $10 million (2022/23 to 2025/26 $120 million)
• Energy Efficiency Initiatives for Libraries and Recreation Centres – $4 million
• Urban Forestry Plan implementation – $2 million

Transportation & Safety

• Road Safety Improvement & Traffic Calming – $5 million
• Enhanced Street Recapitalization program supporting new Levels of Service – $9 million (total Street Recapitalization is $41 million)
• Transfer of provincial roads to the municipality from the Province of Nova Scotia – $8 million
• Fire Fleet Expansion & Replacement – $5 million
• Bedford West Road Oversizing – $3 million 

Recreation & Community 

• Park Development/ Recapitalization – $8 million (growth initiatives increased by $2.5 million)
• Halifax Common Pool Reconstruction – $8 million
• Beechville Lakeside Timberlea Recreation Centre Recapitalization – $4 million
• Halifax North Memorial Library – $5 million
• Non-profit tax rebate for affordable housing increase – $450,000
• Burnside & City of Lakes Industrial Park expansion – $26 million