Halifax council looks to pass a 6.2 per cent property tax increase for new budget
Homeowners in Halifax will pay more municipal taxes this coming year, but exactly how much remains uncertain as council continues to debate the rate hike.
Finance staff presented and list of budget adjustments on Tuesday that found $8.8 million in revenue savings, which brings the property tax hike down to 6.2 per cent.
That works out to an estimated $185 in additional charges to the average residential property tax bill.
Councillor Waye Mason said this tax hike is in part due to a pattern of undercharging in previous years and the record growth the municipality has been witnessing.
"What we are seeing right now is a huge demand for new services because the population is growing but we don't really see the property tax increase coming in for the new houses and new apartments, as fast as the population is growing," said Mason. "That's like five to 10 years out."
With rapid growth and increasing population come challenges, like the need to expand services and infrastructure to meet the demand.
Councillor Patty Cuttel says the growth we are seeing isn't paying for the growth right now, and the municipality needs to rethink its financial objectives moving forward so services can remain at least 'status-quo' without raising taxes to levels that people can't afford.
"We can't have everything or we could but then our taxes would be above and beyond the roof," said Cuttell. "That's why it's critically important that find a new framework for municipal funding, otherwise it's going to fall on the back of the property taxpayer and that's just not sustainable."
In November, finance staff recommended a 15 per cent property tax increase, the largest ever. Since then, council has cut that rate down to eight per cent in January and today with additional cuts it's looking closer to 6.2 per cent.
Council will return to the budget process on April 23 and look to pass a final vote and approve the 2024-25 budget.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6967777.1721254561!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
BREAKING U.S President Joe Biden tests positive for COVID-19, White House says
U.S. President Joe Biden, under fire from fellow Democrats to drop his re-election campaign, tested positive for COVID-19 while on a trip to Las Vegas on Wednesday and is self-isolating after experiencing mild symptoms, the White House said.
DEVELOPING RNC live updates: Donald Trump Jr., JD Vance set to speak tonight
Follow for the latest updates on the third day of the Republican National Convention.
Poilievre vows to fire envoy as Canada buys a $9M condo for diplomat in NYC
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is promising to fire Canada’s consul general in New York City if the Tories wins the next federal election.
Here's who will take the podium today at the Republican National Convention
This year's Republican National Convention continued Wednesday with a packed list of speakers including vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr. and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Quebec filmmaker denied replacement hand after airplane propeller accident
The War Amps is speaking out after one of its members who lost most of his hand in an airplane propeller accident was denied coverage by Quebec for a mechanical hand.
Video shows B.C. grizzly basking in clawfoot tub
A donated clawfoot bathtub has become the preferred lounging spot for a pair of B.C. grizzly bears, who have been taking turns relaxing and reclining in it – with minimal sibling squabbling – for the past year.
Rare photos reveal uncontacted tribe in Peruvian Amazon as loggers move in
Rare images of the Mashco Piro, an uncontacted Indigenous tribe in the remote Peruvian Amazon, were published on Tuesday by Survival International,
'I feel like he did not die in vain': Family responds to report on tortured B.C. boy's death
The heartbreak over the death of an Indigenous 11-year-old Fraser Valley boy, tortured and then ultimately killed by his foster parents, was felt by all who knew him.
Trudeau cabinet to meet Friday as speculation around a shuffle swirls
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet is expected to meet on Friday, CTV News has learned. The agenda sets aside 30 minutes for ministers to meet virtually Friday morning, to talk about 'appointments.' The meeting comes amid speculation around the prime minister shaking up his inner circle.