Highlighted below are a few recent decisions by Regional Council that reflect steps being taken by the municipality to make a difference in the Halifax region. For more details regarding all matters deliberated by Council and the direction given to municipal staff, please see the action summaries which are posted to the online meeting agendas within one business day as well as the meeting minutes which are posted online once approved by Regional Council.
Highlights from Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Regional Council approves 2025/26 municipal budget
The Halifax Regional Municipality’s Regional Council has approved the 2025/26 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 2025/26 municipal budget includes an operating budget of $1.33 billion and a capital budget of $314 million.
The tax bill is the collection of all necessary levies – including the general property taxes, area charges and provincial contributions. The tax bill is calculated by multiplying the tax rate by the total assessed value of a property as set by the Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC). For more information on how to read the tax bill, visit: halifax.ca/taxes.
Due to the increase in property assessment values, the municipal portion of the residential tax bill will increase by 4.7 per cent. The average residential tax bill (including provincial contributions and mandatory tax) will increase by 5.2 per cent – or approximately $117. This is based on the average single-family home assessment value of $338,500.
The residential tax rate remains unchanged at 0.770. Due to higher assessment increases, commercial rates have decreased in each assessment tier and tax area.
The residential rate and commercial rates for each tier and tax area will be updated on halifax.ca/taxrates by no later than the end of the day on April 9.
Highlights from the 2025/26 municipal budget include:
- enhancing community safety by adding 20 new firefighters;
- addressing increased community policing needs by hiring 14 additional RCMP officers;
- providing greater support to youth by expanding the Youth Advocate Program
- enhancing transit services by extending the service life of ten buses;
- ensuring effective management and planning of significant infrastructure projects by creating the Office of Major Projects and the Office of Strategic Infrastructure & Transportation Planning;
- increasing support to not-for-profit groups by an additional $2 million;
- strengthening the municipality’s response to mental health and crisis situations by establishing a community crisis diversion team; and
- approving the Windsor Street Exchange redevelopment project, with construction commencing in 2025/26 – a key infrastructure investment valued at $150 million.
For more information on the 2025/26 municipal budget, including all associated budget resources, visit: halifax.ca/budget.
Previous meeting highlights
Enhancing food access in the region
Regional Council has approved an increase in funding from $75,000 to $175,700 to the Mobile Food Market.
Rising costs, soaring rates of food insecurity and growing interest in community- based, welcoming and dignified ways of accessing food has resulted in an unprecedented demand for the services of the Mobile Food Market. Since 2019, there has been a dramatic increase in food distribution and has challenged the ability of the Mobile Food Market to respond to communities. Additional funding will be used to continue supporting a senior leadership role, an additional full-time employee, and for program funding.
Regional Council has also approved the continued support for two years until 2029 and directed the Chief Administrative Officer to work with the Mobile Food Market and other partners for the purchase of a new hybrid or electric vehicle.
For more information, read the staff report.
Halifax Wanderers DND Appreciation Game Fly Past
Regional Council has given permission for the Royal Canadian Air Force to conduct a fly past over the Wanderers Grounds to mark the annual Department of National Defense (DND) appreciation game. The annual event brings awareness and appreciation to the contributions of the Canadian Armed Forces and the DND. This event will also fundraise in support of military families through the Military Family Resource Centre.
For more information, read the staff report.
*Note: this motion will be final when the meeting minutes are approved by Regional Council.