Tax hikes, cuts highlight Halifax budget proposal

Tax bills will go up and some municipal services will disappear if Halifax regional council approves the latest budget proposal.

Council heard thetough measures Tuesday night.

"The proposed budget is by no means pain-free," said Dan English, chief administrative officer for the Halifax Regional Municipality.

"Staff is being asked to reduce budgets while at the same maintaining quality services. Basically, we've done our best."

In fact, staff had to wrestle with a $35-million budget shortfall, up from a projected $30 million. This was due to the upcoming increase in the HST and the need to put more money into snow removal.

As a result, the proposed budget includes a number of fee increases, rate hikes, and cuts to services and staffing.

For example, the tax bill for a home in the urban area of HRM that is assessed at $180,000 could jump by $56.

Other measures include:

• 60 full-time positions left vacant,6 or7 layoffs
• new or increased fees for ice rental, permits forshed construction
• no new trails
• elimination of weekly green cart pickup in summer
• suspension of streetscaping, underground wiring

Yet it doesn't go far enough for Coun. Tim Outhit.

"I'd like to see us dig a little deeper during the debate to see if we can do even better so we wouldn't have to have any rate or even less increase," said Outhit.

Mayor Peter Kelly said councillors still face tough decisions if they don't accept the staff recommendations.

"If they don't like them, then they're going to have to find some areas in the budget to change. Because whatever they put in, they must take out elsewhere," said Kelly.

Council will begin debating the proposed budget on Friday.