**** HRM Media Release
Regional Council approves 2024/25 municipal budget
The Halifax Regional Municipality’s Regional Council has approved the 2024/25 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 2024/25 municipal budget includes an operating budget of $1.04 billion and a capital budget of $306.5 million. This budget allows the municipality to keep pace with operating demands posed by significant growth, inflationary pressures and also includes some investments in new or enhanced services.
“It was a challenging budget debate, through which I believe Council managed to support growth, maintain services and meet significant commitments to our communities,” says Mayor Mike Savage.
The tax bill is the collection of all necessary levies – including the general property taxes, area charges and provincial contributions. For more information on how to read the tax bill, visit: halifax.ca/taxes.
Effective the 2024/25 fiscal year, the municipality will no longer be required to collect and remit taxes to the Province of Nova Scotia for Housing and Corrections. Previously, these charges were included in the “provincial rate” section of residents’ tax bills.
While this change has no effect on the municipality’s budget, it will lower the total tax bill – which includes the portion the municipality collects on the province’s behalf.
The average residential tax bill (including provincial contributions and mandatory tax) will increase by 6.3 per cent – or approximately $214. This is based on the average single-family home assessment value of $323,300.
A new commercial taxation policy came into effect on April 1, 2023, changing the way that commercial property taxes are calculated. Geographical tax boundaries for commercial properties changed from the previous urban, suburban and rural areas to one of five new tax areas, which are listed in Administrative Order 2022-003-ADM, Respecting Commercial Property Taxation in Certain Areas of the Municipality. As well, for each tax area, rates will vary by assessed value of the property, within three tiers of assessment.
The residential rate and commercial rates for each tier and tax area will be updated on halifax.ca/taxrates by Wednesday, April 24.
“Our approach in this budgeting process has been to balance the demand and cost of services, while aligning spending with Regional Council’s priorities and being fiscally responsible,” says Cathie O’Toole, Chief Administrative Officer.
Below are select highlights from the 2024/25 municipal budget, grouped in Regional Council-approved priorities from the Strategic Priorities Plan 2021-25.
Communities
- $2 million for a 24/7 fire station conversion in Hammonds Plains
- Funding for 22 new Halifax Regional Police positions and six new Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers
- $2.3 million in continued Community Safety programs and new positions
- Funding for 10 new crossing guard positions
Prosperous Economy
- $7.5 million in budgeted tax relief for non-profit and charitable organizations
Environment
- $18.6 million for capital projects as part of HalifACT: Acting on Climate Together
Integrated Mobility
- $271 million for the Mill Cove Ferry Terminal project
- $2.4 million for funding of the Integrated Mobility Plan
For more information on the 2024/25 municipal budget, including all associated budget resources, visit: halifax.ca/budget.
