Tax increase proposed as councillors begin discussions on $1.3B city budget

Posted Feb 5, 2025 05:15:21 AM.
Last Updated Feb 5, 2025 01:55:46 PM.
Wednesday marked the beginning of work on Halifax Regional Municipality’s 2025-26 budget.
Regional councillors will roll up their sleeves today as work on the financial blueprint begins. The proposed budget, before deliberations, shows an annual spending increase of $69.7 million and a 2.7 per cent increase in municipal tax rates. Factoring in this tax increase along with a 4.7 per cent rise in property assessments, the total increase would land taxpayers at 7.6 per cent.
For the average single-family home in HRM, this results in an additional $189 per year.
According to the staff report on the budget, the increase is driven by compensation hikes, inflation, capital funding needs, and the growing demands of a larger population. The report also notes rising utility, fuel, and construction material costs contributing to the budget’s pressures.
The city’s budget committee will begin deliberating the $1.3 billion budget at a meeting today, as residents face higher taxes amid increasing living costs and service demands.
Last year, Regional Council approved the 2024/25 Budget, which included a municipal tax rate increase a total average tax bill increase of 6.3 per cent.
Read the budget documents here