Councillor’s Communiqué : June 2005 - Issue # 91

As a final update to my newsletter articles of February 2002 (Issue # 28) and September 2002 (Issue # 35), I am pleased to advise that HRM has calculated the final betterment charges on this estimated $1.9 million water service extension infrastructure project.

Now with the tender closed and construction completed, the work costs came in much lower than anticipated.  The actual total project cost came in at $1,140,000.  Approximately 40% lower than initial estimates.  Both the 2/3 funding from the Federal / Provincial Infrastructure Program and the 1/3 cost allocated to the community via Local Improvement Charges was reduced accordingly.  Instead of having rates at $26 per linear foot of frontage or $5,600 per acre of serviceable land now the charges have been reduced to $19.32 / ft. or $4,207 per acre. 

This area had been plagued with bad water quality and limited quantity for years.  Completion of this new service project will now assure high quality and provide for an ample supply of water for those residents.  This will finally help improve the quality of life for those residents in the Little Salmon River subdivision area.  It has been a very long process which started back in 1993.  I thank the residents for their patience and perseverance over this period of time.

GRADUATION CONGRATULATIONS

At this time I wish to congratulate all the University, Community College, and High School Students on their success of Graduating. May you have the best of luck and success with your future endeavours.

HRM has just amended and revamped its residential property tax rebate program to assist lower income homeowners with their property tax burden.  First of all the income eligibility threshold has been raised to $27,000.  Secondly, applicants can now take advantage of applying for both the partial exemption (rebate) and deferral programs. 

In the past one could only apply for one or the other but not both of these programs.  Therefore, one can now get a rebate to lower one's bill, then defer the balance until one has the means to pay the balance. 

The eligibility criteria for these programs are now restricted to the registered titleholder(s) of the property as documented through the NS Registry of Deeds.  Also a trustee, guardian or executor of a property will be recognized; however corporations, limited companies or other business entities will not be eligible unless it is a registered Canadian charity.

Household Income / Property Tax Rebate Table

HRM CALL CENTRE & WEB-SITE INFO

If you want information about any municipal services or points of interest within our region, contact HRM, at PO Box 1749, Halifax, NS, B3J 3A5 or by calling HRM=s General Information Line - Call Centre at 490-4000 or Toll Free at 1-800-835-6428 (in NS only).  For the Hearing Impaired, the TTY-TDD line is 490-6645.  The Call-Centre hours are 7 days a week from 7:30 am to 10:00 pm everyday except New Year`s Day and Christmas Day.  By dialling this number you will reach the HRM Call Centre through which you can access a wide variety of municipal services and information.  Your opinions and questions are important to us but all information is kept confidential.  Be sure to check out the HRM`s `Whose Job Is It` website www.halifax.ca/whosejob.html . Then click on a part of the diagram image to find out who to call in HRM for everyday questions or problems.  If you have an issue pertaining to By-Law Enforcement, or to make a complaint about a by-law violation, please call or e-mail your concerns to bylawcomp@halifax.ca .  When you do call about a situation, please obtain a "Hansard Record Incident Number".  This will help us compile a log of complaints and tracks any follow up progress done by staff investigations and actions on the file.