An $88.9-million increase to the municipality’s 2026-27 budget and a projected 10.5 per cent hike to property tax bills hanging over city hall. Photo by Ryan Taplin /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentAs Halifax budget talks officially began on Wednesday, the municipality’s acting chief administrative officer tried to break the ice with a joke.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 really wanted to start this morning with a really good budget joke, but it just didn’t add up,” Brad Anguish quipped before HRM’s budget committee made up of councillors and Mayor Andy Fillmore.Article contentArticle contentBut not many inside the council chambers for the first of many budget discussions were in a joking mood, especially with an $88.9-million increase to the municipality’s 2026-27 budget and a projected 10.5 per cent hike to property tax bills hanging over city hall.Article contentArticle contentMunicipal staff was directed by council last April to hold overall spending, except for uncontrollable increases, such as inflation, contractual obligations and mandatory provincial contributions.Article contentAfter one day of budget talks, signs point to cuts in services and an increase in user fees in an effort to mitigate the tax bill hike. One resident even called for it before deliberations began Wednesday morning.Article content“As much as we want to pay for public goods for everyone, we can’t afford it,” Matt Stickland of Lawrencetown told the budget committee during a public participation. “If we want to subsidize $10 worth of public goods, but we are only bringing in $5 worth of taxes, that’s $5 worth of public services we can’t fund.”Article contentFillmore tabled a motion that tasked municipal staff to find further savings, including service reductions, increases to user fees and fines, reducing the strategic infrastructure and climate action funds by one-third, implementing a staffing freeze and a 10 per cent cut to program grants.Article contentArticle content Coun. Sam Austin (Dartmouth Centre) speaks to reporters at city hall. Photo by Jen Taplin /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentBy doing so, Fillmore said Halifax will follow the lead of the federal government as it seeks 15 per cent in savings over three years, and the province, which is examining a 10 per cent cut to program grants.Article content“It does mirror what the federal and the provincial governments are doing in terms of showing restraint,” Fillmore said. “Our residents are showing restraint and feel that we need to do the same.”Article contentThe motion passed unanimously.Article contentCoun. Sam Austin (Dartmouth Centre) acknowledged that he and the mayor “share very different philosophical views” on how to run the city. But he supported Fillmore’s motion.Article content“I think this is a prudent way to go about it,” Austin said. “Staff should be preparing a status quo budget.”Article contentCoun. Cathy Deagle Gammon (Waverley-Fall River-Musquodoboit Valley) voiced concerns over the 10 per cent cut to program grants.
Halifax eyes service cuts, increased fees to drive down projected 10.5 per cent tax hike
