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Councillor’s
Communiqué : July 2006 - Issue # 104
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HRM 2006-07 BUDGET
APPROVED HRM's 2006-07
Budget has finally been approved. It was late this
year because HRM wanted to wait and see what impacts
would be felt from the Federal and Provincial
budgets that were also tabled late due to their
respective election delays.
This year the budget will focus more on enhanced
public safety. More Regional Police & RCMP Officers
will be hired and our Fire Services will see some
improvements done to their rural fire stations. Also
there will be the continuation of transit and
traffic improvements.
Our 2006-07 tax-rates will decrease by 5.1%. The
tax-rate per $100 of assessment for our Rural area
will be $1.119 ; the Suburban area $1.125 ; and in
the Urban area $1.228. The Rural Commercial Tax Rate
will be $3.055 whereas the Urban & Suburban areas
are at $3.352 .
Over the past decade since Amalgamation, HRM has
been consciously focussing its efforts on building a
solid, manageable and predictable financial
foundation and improving internal systems to make
HRM more efficient and cost-effective. HRM has made
considerable progress in recent years reducing its
debt through a Multi-Year Financial Strategy, and is
making significant strides towards a "pay as you go"
strategy for Capital spending. This year's Operating
Budget is $630 million and the Capital Budget at
$196 million. This Budget is aimed at delivering
more tangible programs and services to its residents
at the community level. The Budget was developed in
keeping with HRM's Corporate Scorecard, which aligns
staff priorities with more input sought from the
Regional Councillors on their priorities. The final
bill will become due Friday, Sept. 29th. |
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COMMUNITY
TRANSIT ON SATURDAYS
For the first time since 1999,
Community Transit will offer Saturday service during
the summer months of July and August. It is expected
to start on July 8th and run until Sept 2nd Labour
Day Weekend. Any extension beyond then will solely
depend upon good rider ship statistics.
This service adjustment is in response to
accommodate the demand for such enhanced weekend
access to Metro. This will certainty help those
students with summer jobs and for seniors and many
others wanting to get into town for appointments and
special events.
Further details will follow with pamphlets and
schedules distributed on the bus, a local
information sign blitz, e-mail notices, P.S..A.'s
and other community announcements.
This year, the transit area rate will also drop in
half to $0.026 / $100 assessment. The decrease is
attributed to a year-end operational surplus and an
increase in the assessments within the total
catchment area of this community transit service. |
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COASTAL TOURISM
STRATEGY INPUT
The Tourism Industry
Association of NS (TIANS) and NS Tourism Vision
would appreciate feedback regarding the Draft Nova
Scotia Strategy for Sustainable Coastal Tourism
Development.
Tourism operators, community associations and the
general public are encouraged to visit this web-site
www.nstourismvision.com
to obtain of a copy of the draft proposal. Or
contact Jennifer McKeane at TIANS : 422-3344 or
Toll-free at 1-800-948-4267 Ext # 228. Or by e-mail
at
Jennifer_McKeane@tians.org . Deadline for any
feedback and input is July 28th. |
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LAWRENCETOWN
TRANSFERS TITLE? The
Community of Lawrencetown will have to decide
whether or not to transfer land title and ownership
of its community centre and ball field property over
to HRM.
This community-based volunteer operated facility has
been experiencing perpetual problems of low
participation and little cash flow in their efforts
of keeping its doors open to the area. The building
is in need of some capital repairs and upgrading but
they lack the adequate resources in order to keep up
with its life-cycle maintenance.
HRM is willing to assume ownership of the property
and sign a local management agreement with the
community centre board of directors. Therefore the
community keeps its stewardship role and day-to-day
control over the facility and the municipality can
provide on-going operational and capital assistance
to help with facility and field upkeep.
There will be a Public Meeting on Tuesday, July 18th
at 7:30 PM to discuss the merits of this Title
Transfer and review the aims and objective of the
Community Management Agreement. All are welcomed !
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