Published Apr 08, 2025 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 2 minute readHalifax City Hall. Halifax regional council approved a $1.33-billion operating budget on Tuesday. – CHRONICLE HERALD FILE PHOTOJust before Halifax regional council approved a $1.33 billion operating budget following weeks of debates and discussions, Coun. Tony Mancini (Dartmouth East-Burnside) paid tribute to a former colleague.“The budget was something very important to all of us, but particularly to Russell Walker,” Mancini said during Tuesday’s meeting.Walker, who died on March 26, spent 27 years on regional council, representing the Fairview and Clayton Park area and serving two years as deputy mayor, a position now held by Mancini. Walker retired in 2020.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle content“I think of Russell today and he would be looking at us, saying, ‘this budget, well done.’ I also think Russell would be giving us an evil look because we would talk about things not budget-related during our deliberations.”Council also approved a capital plan of $314 million on Tuesday. The residential tax rate will remain unchanged during the 2025-26 fiscal year, holding steady at $0.770 per $100 of assessment.The residential property tax bill will increase by 4.7 per cent. Cathie O’Toole, the municipality’s chief administrative officer, said the average residential and commercial property tax bill will rise 5.2 per cent, or approximately $117 for an average single-family home. That is based on the average single-family home assessment value of $338,500.The budget will include funding for: 20 new firefighters, 14 additional RCMP officers, expanding youth programs, extending the service life of 10 transit buses, an additional $2 million for not-for-profit groups, establishing a community crisis diversion team, creating two offices (major projects and strategic infrastructure and transportation planning) and $150 million for the Windsor Street Exchange redevelopment project.Article content“I think of the many people that spoke to us in these chambers,” Mancini said. “The small business owner on Portland Street who said, ‘if you raise my taxes too high, I may have to close the door.’ That really hit home for me. Or the seniors who spoke to us and said, ‘we want to stay in our home, but if you raise our taxes, it’s going to be tough to stay at home.’“At the same time, we have to provide services in a growing community and that’s the tough balance that we have here today.”Council approved the budget by a vote of 11-3. Coun. Laura White (Halifax South Downtown) was one of three dissenting votes along with Coun. Shawn Cleary (Halifax West Armdale) and Coun. Virginia Hinch (Halifax Peninsula North).White said she wasn’t comfortable with the notion of drawing from HRM’s reserve funds, such as the central library reserve.“Drawing from reserves is something I’m really uncomfortable with,” White said. “That was the biggest thing for me. I don’t want to be doing that in the future.”Article content
$1.33-billion budget approved by Halifax regional council
