At the July 8 regional council meeting, we were presented with a staff report on Options and Considerations for the 2026/2027 budget (here).
The biggest takeaway was the projected 7.5% tax increase due to contractual changes, inflation, and removal of the one-time funding (as a result of reserve spending I wrote about here) based on our current revenue streams.
Following Mayor Fillmore's motion on bike lanes (I wrote about it here), Deputy Mayor Mancini presented Council with another motion on bike lanes to address the rising costs:
The Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to write a staff report of all AAA bike network capital projects defined in current the four year Capital Plan for years 2026-29.
Due to the number of emails, and the amount of media attention the issue of bike lanes has received, I do feel it's important to highlight the reasons for my 'no' vote on Mayor Fillmore's motion on June 10 (the motion failed 12/5). The full motion is here.
For District 13 specifically, there isn't much that is truly new. There are a few enhancements for shared housing with special care, accommodation for beehives, and farmer's markets. These are all inline with regional strategies, and they provide consistency throughout the Regional Plan for our overarching goals.
The biggest news for District 13 is the watercourse setback:
With another fire season upon us, it's important to note the personal responsibility all of us have in ensuring our own safety, and the safety of our community. There is much focus on egress, and while the importance of that cannot be overstated, it must not take away from the steps we can, and absolutely should, be taking today. So, what should you do?
1. Get A FireSmart Assessment: