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On October 27, 2009, Halifax Regional Council was given an update on the 2009/10 Budget, which was approved on May 26, 2009.
October 27, 2009 Budget Update
On May 26, 2009 Halifax Regional Council passed the 2009/2010 Operating and Capital Budgets for the Halifax Regional Municipality. The budget will provide incremental service increases in selected areas while holding the tax rate flat.
The budget is comprised of $570 million net municipal Operating Budget (3.6% increase over 2008/2009) and a gross Capital Budget of $159 million.
Budget Highlights 
Presentation to Council Proposed Budget Tabled
On April 7, 2009, Halifax Regional Council heard the second presentation on HRM’s Fiscal Framework. As a result of the presentation, Regional Council recommended to staff to build the proposed budget on the basis of holding the tax rate for the 2009/2010 budget year.
The first presentation to Council on the Fiscal Framework was made on February 24, 2009. Since that time, many difficult decisions were made in order to support holding the tax rate steady.
Additionally, Council approved a reduction in the Fire Protection Area Rate this year, to recognize and eliminate a $4.7 million surplus that has gradually accumulated in the Fire Protection Area Rate.
Both Fiscal Framework presentations provide details on the fiscal pressures facing the Municipality, and enable Council to give direction to staff to develop the draft budget, which will be tabled on April 28, 2009.
Further Information:
On February 24, 2009, Halifax Regional Council was presented with the 2009/2010 Fiscal Framework. The Fiscal Framework provides Council with information that will help determine the direction for the 2009/2010 Budget. Once the Framework is approved, development of the Budget for 09/10 will focus on HRM’s economic future, investment in resources, and priorities for service delivery.
The Framework provides assumptions to help build a budget, and to seek Council’s feedback on the level of services they want to see in the community. In March 2009, Council will be provided with additional information on the Municipality’s Debt Policy and Transit’s funding gap in order to provide further direction on the 2009/2010 Budget.
When the Framework is approved, staff will devise a more detailed plan for the 2009-2010 Budget. The 2009/2010 draft budget is scheduled to be tabled on April 21, 2009.
Further information:
The documents below are in pdf format
Council’s Focus for 2009/ 2010
The following focus areas were adopted by Council on January 20th 2009. They set the direction Council will take over the coming years, and will assist in the allocation of funds to appropriate projects and initiatives.
The focus areas include Transportation, Infrastructure, Public Safety, Community Planning and Governance & Communications.
Transportation
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Transit, Active Transportation, Traffic Planning.
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Infrastructure
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Community Facilities, Parks & Playgrounds, Community Beautification, Streets and Roads. |
Public Safety
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Implementation of Roundtable on Violence Report. |
Community Planning
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Continued implementation of Regional Plan. |
Governance & Communications
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Council and Committee Reform, Internal & External Communications. |
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