Mayor Fillmore stepped down from the Chair and Deputy Mayor Mancini assumed the Chair.
The following was before Halifax Regional Council:
- Request for Consideration form from Mayor Fillmore
Cathie O' Toole, Chief Administrative Officer and Jerry Blackwood, Executive Director of Finance and Asset Management/Chief Financial Officer responded to questions of clarification from Halifax Regional Council.
MOVED by Mayor Fillmore, seconded by Councillor Gillis
THAT Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to return to Council by June 2025 with a staff report that includes feasible options and considerations for the 2026/2027 budget and business planning process including the following:
1. Hold expenditure levels flat for the 2026/2027 budget to keep the total budget at 1.35B with consideration for an increase for inflation based on CPI.
2. Identify operating efficiencies and savings that could be implemented in this current budget year.
3. Examine options for long term efficiencies and savings in both the operating and capital budget including areas of duplication, service modernization, project integration, and potential redeployment of resources,
4. Identify options for revenue diversification and funding including financing tools, user fees, private and public partnerships, and revenue sharing.
5. Consider financial sustainability and service delivery enhancement opportunities for core services to identify efficiencies, find capacity, and increase productivity,
6. Timeline for the annual business planning and budget process that would be shorter and start earlier for Council and conclude with an approved budget no later than February 28th.
Mayor Fillmore proposed item 1 to read: hold the expenditure levels flat for the 2026/2027 budget with consideration for an increase for inflation based on CPI, contractual commitments, mandatory provincial contributions, and items already approved by Council in the 2025/2026 budget. As provided for in section 53 (2) of Administrative Order One, Respecting the Procedures of the Council, the amendment was accepted as friendly.
The motion now read:
MOVED by Mayor Fillmore, seconded by Councillor Gillis
THAT Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to return to Council by June 2025 with a staff report that includes feasible options and considerations for the 2026/2027 budget and business planning process including the following:
1. Hold the expenditure levels flat for the 2026/2027 budget with consideration for an increase for inflation based on CPI, contractual commitments, mandatory provincial contributions, and items already approved by Council in the 2025/2026 budget.
2. Identify operating efficiencies and savings that could be implemented in this current budget year.
3. Examine options for long term efficiencies and savings in both the operating and capital budget including areas of duplication, service modernization, project integration, and potential redeployment of resources,
4. Identify options for revenue diversification and funding including financing tools, user fees, private and public partnerships, and revenue sharing.
5. Consider financial sustainability and service delivery enhancement opportunities for core services to identify efficiencies, find capacity, and increase productivity,
6. Timeline for the annual business planning and budget process that would be shorter and start earlier for Council and conclude with an approved budget no later than February 28th.
As provided for in section 90 of Administrative Order One, Respecting the Procedures of the Council, the motion was separated for voting purposes.
MOVED by Mayor Fillmore, seconded by Councillor Gillis
THAT Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to return to Council by June 2025 with a staff report that includes feasible options and considerations for the 2026/2027 budget and business planning process including the following:
1. Hold the expenditure levels flat for the 2026/2027 budget with consideration for an increase for inflation based on CPI, contractual commitments, mandatory provincial contributions, and items already approved by Council in the 2025/2026 budget.
MOTION PUT AND PASSED. (11 in favour, 5 against)
In favour: Mayor Fillmore, Deputy Mayor Mancini, Councillors Deagle Gammon, Hendsbee, Kent, Purdy, Cleary, Cuttell, Hartling, Young, Gillis
Against: Councillors Austin, Hinch, Morse, Steele, White
Not Present: Councillor St-Amand
MOVED by Mayor Fillmore, seconded by Councillor Gillis
THAT Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to return to Council by June 2025 with a staff report that includes feasible options and considerations for the 2026/2027 budget and business planning process including the following:
2. Identify operating efficiencies and savings that could be implemented in this current budget year.
3. Examine options for long term efficiencies and savings in both the operating and capital budget including areas of duplication, service modernization, project integration, and potential redeployment of resources,
4. Identify options for revenue diversification and funding including financing tools, user fees, private and public partnerships, and revenue sharing.
5. Consider financial sustainability and service delivery enhancement opportunities for core services to identify efficiencies, find capacity, and increase productivity,
MOTION PUT AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED by Mayor Fillmore, seconded by Councillor Gillis
THAT Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to return to Council by June 2025 with a staff report that includes feasible options and considerations for the 2026/2027 budget and business planning process including the following:
6. Timeline for the annual business planning and budget process that would be shorter and start earlier for Council and conclude with an approved budget no later than February 28th.
MOTION PUT AND PASSED. (11 in favour, 6 against)
In favour: Mayor Fillmore, Deputy Mayor Mancini, Councillors Deagle Gammon, Purdy, Cleary, Cuttell, Steele, Hartling, Young, Gillis, St-Amand
Against: Councillors Austin, Hendsbee, Hinch, Kent, Morse, White