Budget

Last updated: January 27, 2023

2023/24 Business Planning and Budget Schedule

Wednesday, January 25 *INFORMATION REPORT* - view agenda

Recommendation Report and Presentation: Assessment/Budget Direction Update
- This report provides an update on the Budget Direction, based on Budget Committee’s November 25, 2022, direction for proposals to achieve a 4.0 per cent increase. An update on Tax Revenues and the PVSC Assessment information, and how it relates to the municipality’s property taxes, will also be provided.

Budget and Business Planning Schedule Dates

Friday, January 27 (contingency date: Wednesday, February 8) - view agenda

Chief Administrative Office
Finance & Asset Management
Legal & Legislative Services

Friday, February 3 - view agenda

Halifax Regional Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police/ Department of Justice

Wednesday, February 8 (contingency date: Friday, February 10)

Information Technology
Human Resources & Corporate Communications
Property, Fleet & Environment
Note: municipal staff will be presenting a project update on HalifACT

Friday, February 10

Halifax Public Libraries

Tuesday, February 14 (contingency date: Wednesday, February 15)

Public Works

Friday, February 17 (contingency date: Wednesday, February 22)

Auditor General
Planning & Development
Parks & Recreation

Wednesday, March 1 (contingency date: Wednesday, March 8)

Halifax Transit
Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency

Friday, March 3 (contingency date: Wednesday, March 8)

Halifax Regional Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police/ Department of Justice
Fiscal & Consolidated Accounts

Friday, March 10

Budget contingency date (additional time, will be cancelled if not required)

Wednesday, March 29 (contingency date: Friday, March 31)

Recommendation Report and Presentation: Budget Adjustment List (BAL) Review

Tuesday, April 25 (contingency date: Tuesday, May 2)

Recommendation Report: 2023/24 Budget and Business Plan Approval

Residents will be given an opportunity to speak directly to Regional Council during the budget process. During each meeting, time is set aside for the public to provide insight and comments.

Participation options:

Registered speakers (recommended):

Residents can register until 4:30 p.m. the business day prior to the meeting.
Registered participants will be called upon to speak in the order in which they registered. Registration information will be included on the Agenda page for each meeting. If you have questions about registration, please contact the Clerk’s Office at 902.490.4210 or by email at clerks@halifax.ca.

Non-registered speakers:
- During the meeting, after all registered speakers have been called, the Chair will call three times to ask if there is anyone else present who would like to speak. At that time anyone who has not registered will have the opportunity to speak to budget committee.

Please note: Meeting dates may be subject to change and any new dates will be communicated on this web page.

2023/24 Budget Business Planning and Budget Process

The Strategic Multi-Year Business Planning and Budget Process and 2023/24 Budget Outlook, presented on October 25, 2022, marked the start of the 2023/24 Budget and Business Planning process. This report provided a high-level overview of the background, changes and updates, proposed key dates and milestones, financial challenges and budget implications.

On November 8, 2022, Regional Council approved the revised 2023-24 Budget & Business Planning Schedule as outlined in Option 1 of the Strategic Multi-Year Business Planning and Budget Process and 2023/24 Budget Outlook.

The 2023/24 Strategic Priorities Plan – Council Priorities and Strategic Performance Report was presented on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. See the Strategic Performance Report 2022/21.

The 2023/24 Budget Direction report was presented to Budget Committee on Friday, November 25, 2022. There were two separate motions passed, as follows:

MOTION 1:

THAT Budget Committee:

Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to develop the 2023/24 Budget according to Council's approved priorities, and preliminary fiscal direction, including setting the average property tax bill for residential and commercial properties at an 4.0 percent increase by preparing proposals for reductions to the operating budget and only use onetime expense to offset costs in the current fiscal year if matched with an operating budget reduction in subsequent years.
Recommend that Regional Council rescind the direction from the 2022-23 fiscal budget to include $7 million in the 2023/24 budget to fund a sidewalk program from capital from operating; and
Further recommend that Halifax Regional Council:

Reallocate $20 million included in the Strategic Initiative Operating Reserve (Q667) in 2019 as a potential capital contribution for the construction of a Community Stadium, to the following reserves:
- Transfer $5 million to the Options Reserve (Q421) for the Solid Waste Facility capital project (CW190003);
- Transfer $15 million to the Capital Fund Reserve (Q521) to fund over-commitments within the capital fund reserve; and
Approve revised debt policy of $1,500 per dwellings and amend capital-from-operating to be $64.922 million, by reducing $8 million from street recapitalization, for the 2023/24 budget.

MOTION 2:

THAT Budget Committee direct the Chief Administrative Office to request a staff report to include $3 million in the 2023/24 budget to fund a sidewalk program from debt.

Recommendations 2 and 3 of the first motion passed are targeting ratification at Regional Council on December 13, 2022.