Highlighted below are a few recent decisions by Regional Council that reflect steps being taken by the municipality to make a difference in the Halifax region. For more details regarding all matters deliberated by Council and the direction given to municipal staff, please see the action summaries which are posted to the online meeting agendas within one business day as well as the meeting minutes which are posted online once approved by Regional Council.
Highlights from Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Regional Council approves 2025-26 Events East Business Plan
Regional Council has approved the 2025/26 Events East Business Plan.
Events East manages and operates the Halifax Convention Centre, Scotiabank Centre and Ticket Atlantic. The Halifax Convention Centre Act outlines that Event East’s activities be maintained and managed in a manner that will promote economic development, tourism and industry in the province generally, and the municipality in particular.
For more information, read the staff report here.
*Note: this motion will be final when the meeting minutes are approved by Regional Council.
Municipality sets 2026-2030 strategic planning process
The municipality’s administration has started creating the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan and Regional Council has approved the proposed approach in finalizing the Plan.
The Strategic Plan reflects the municipality’s vision, mission and values – and establishes key areas of focus now and into the future. The four-year plan outlines priorities and goals, which guide how the municipality tracks progress and aligns business plans and budgets. The plan also helps municipal employees understand how their work fits into the long-term goals of the organization, and how they can work together to make a difference in the region.
The draft Plan content has been informed by the results of the 2024 Resident Survey and workshops with Regional Council and the administration's senior leadership.
Beginning in May, Regional Council will review the draft plan. This feedback will then inform a subsequent round of working group meetings and plan development in advance of the final Plan being presented to Regional Council in summer 2025.
For more information, read the staff report here.
*Note: this motion will be final when the meeting minutes are approved by Regional Council.
Previous meeting highlights
Regional Council approves 2025/26 municipal budget
The Halifax Regional Municipality’s Regional Council has approved the 2025/26 municipal budget.
The annual municipal budget funds all costs associated with servicing the growing region – including municipal operations, Regional Council-approved priority initiatives and investments to purchase, construct and rehabilitate municipal assets.
The 2025/26 municipal budget includes an operating budget of $1.33 billion and a capital budget of $314 million.
The tax bill is the collection of all necessary levies – including the general property taxes, area charges and provincial contributions. The tax bill is calculated by multiplying the tax rate by the total assessed value of a property as set by the Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC). For more information on how to read the tax bill, visit: halifax.ca/taxes.
Due to the increase in property assessment values, the municipal portion of the residential tax bill will increase by 4.7 per cent. The average residential tax bill (including provincial contributions and mandatory tax) will increase by 5.2 per cent – or approximately $117. This is based on the average single-family home assessment value of $338,500.
The residential tax rate remains unchanged at 0.770. Due to higher assessment increases, commercial rates have decreased in each assessment tier and tax area.
The residential rate and commercial rates for each tier and tax area will be updated on halifax.ca/taxrates by no later than the end of the day on April 9.
Highlights from the 2025/26 municipal budget include:
- enhancing community safety by adding 20 new firefighters;
- addressing increased community policing needs by hiring 14 additional RCMP officers;
- providing greater support to youth by expanding the Youth Advocate Program
- enhancing transit services by extending the service life of ten buses;
- ensuring effective management and planning of significant infrastructure projects by creating the Office of Major Projects and the Office of Strategic Infrastructure & Transportation Planning;
- increasing support to not-for-profit groups by an additional $2 million;
- strengthening the municipality’s response to mental health and crisis situations by establishing a community crisis diversion team; and
- approving the Windsor Street Exchange redevelopment project, with construction commencing in 2025/26 – a key infrastructure investment valued at $150 million.
For more information on the 2025/26 municipal budget, including all associated budget resources, visit: halifax.ca/budget.