Budget 2026

This budget was the budget nobody wanted, but the final vote (or ratification) on the budget is not a vote on whether you agree with it, it's the last and final step in a process that began in July. Budget ratification represents previous council decisions and dozens and dozens of debates on BAL overs and BAL unders, and the outcome of those debates determines what we ratify. The budget we ratified on Tuesday amounts to a municipal tax increase of 9.5%, but an overall property tax increase of 7.5%.

Municipal budgets are bigger than any one person on council, or any one council. The municipality's fiscal health and the infrastructure projects we have to advance are products much older than this council. I'm learning that impacts of budgets are generational, not annual, although every year we need to make a new budget, and it has to balance.

As far back as July, staff had warned us that our reserve strategy was failing (blog post here). It was also highlighted that total average capital spending over the last three years has only covered one-third of the annual average asset consumption, with the remainder going to debt. Our debt levels can no longer sustain that. The current base program is allocating 68% to renewal projects and 32% to growth (blog post here).  

That's not to say that this council didn't add to the overall problems we faced this year. As I wrote back in 2025 and the BAL debate that landed us at a flat 2025/26 municipal tax rate (blog post here), "Some big cuts weren't actually cuts, but spending reserves. The BAL under for the one-time use of the Central Library Reserve (at $10 million) did pass, although I did not vote in favor of it. While I admire Mayor Fillmore's commitment to a 0% tax increase for the 2025/26 budget year, and I believe we are in an affordability crisis, I do feel as though some budgeting principles I hold were suspended to get us to a 0% increase. I have always maintained that if you can't afford it, you can't afford it on credit, and in this case, our creditor is our future self."

This budget is our future self. Of the $80+ million shortage (blog post here on new expenses), $20 million was this council's doing. We arrived at this budget down $10 million down in reserves, and facing a $10 million operational deficit. By spending reserves on operations, we'd created a false floor, and we had to create a new one. 

The BAL is where cuts or additions are added to the budget - and we spent months going over the budget and landed here (approved BAL List here):

• Budget Cuts:
  1. Total BAL reductions total $11M 
  2. $6M reduction in pension contributions
  3. $9M staff-identified low-service-impact reductions
• Additional Generated Revenues:
  1. Saturday parking
  2. Increased Transit Fares ($0.25 starting in September)
  3. Increased Parks and Rec fees
  4. Increased Tipping fees
• Major Additions:
  1. Implementation/Acceleration of Transit Core Service Plan with 10 new busses
  2. 10 new Firefighters
  3. Road Safety Strategy

I would like to speak to a BAL under requested by the Mayor, which ultimately failed.

The the most contentious request for a briefing note included a potential 7% reduction in wage and compensation expenditures. I voted no, not because I don't agree with the idea in principle, but because Council had already approved a service review to be conducted by an external body. That contract was awarded to Earnst and Young. Ernst & Young LLP (EY), a multinational firm with 8,800 professionals in 16 offices across Canada, including over 300 staff in Atlantic Canada. EY brings years of experience completing similar projects with other Canadian municipalities such as Brampton, St. Catherines, City of Toronto, and City of Calgary. 

As noted by staff and the CAO - this budget is one of the most financially sustainable for the municipality (please see here).

Now that we've covered what this budget is, it's also important to talk about what this budget is not. The Forum rebuild and the associated price tag has nothing to do with this years' budget. While I voted with the mayor to explore other options, even if we proceed with the current plan, it would not affect the tax bill until one fiscal year after it reaches completion. Based on estimates today, that would be 2032/33. The decisions we make on the Forum absolutely affect long-term affordability, but it is not the budget pressure we face today. 

As always, I appreciate your feedback. This budget was exceptionally hard, and I will continue to find opportunites to advance fiscal restraint and opportunity.

What is in the budget for District 13?

I'm so happy to confirm all of the capital projects advanced in this years' budget. This includes:

• Prospect Road Community Centre - playground replacement 
• Western Common - new park at Old Coach Road as part of the Community Integration Funds - Goodwood (design) 
• Hacketts Cove Park - new trail (design) 
• New RRFB (rectangular rapid flashing beacon) crosswalk at Hubley's Rd and St. Margaret's Bay Rd
• Second year funding for the Westwood Hills egress route
• Re-instatement of HRM road paving for gravel roads -which would include roads in Boutilier's Point for design in 2026, and construction in 2027.
• Trail Overpass located over Hammonds Plains Road, approximately 170 metres from the intersection with St. Margaret’s Bay Road in Upper Tantallon