HALIFAX: Regional Council voted Tuesday to ratify the 2026/27 municipal budget.
The vote was 14-3, with Mayor Fillmore voting against ratification.
It will see a 9.5 per cent tax hike for residents, one the Mayor said is too high. It had been pegged at a 10.9 rate hike.
Mayor Andy Fillmore is providing the following statement in response:
“Regional Council and municipal staff have worked extremely hard on this budget. I’d like to thank them, along with all of the residents who expressed their perspectives during this process.
These are not easy choices — they require finding a balance between keeping life affordable and delivering the core services residents rely on every day.”
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“Throughout this process, I heard clearly from residents that affordability is their primary concern right now.
“I brought forward ideas to help lower the tax increase, and ultimately made my decision based on what I believe residents can reasonably afford.
“Because I do not believe we reduced the tax burden enough, I voted against the budget.
Fillmore said with the vote in the rearview mirror, his focus will remain on ensuring HRM’s finances are sustainable.
“With the budget vote behind us, my focus will remain on making sure our finances are sustainable over the long term,” he said.
“I will continue to advance solutions for the challenges our residents are facing: affordability, housing, and mobility.”
A backgrounder summarizing the Mayor’s key budget decisions is available at halifax.ca/mayor.