HRM release:
The Halifax Regional Municipality has begun the 2026/27 municipal budget process with the introduction of the 2026-2027 Capital Plan.
Over the coming weeks, each business unit will present their 2026/27 budget and business plans to Regional Council. During each meeting, time will be set aside for residents to speak directly to the Budget Committee during the process.
For information on how to speak, including the registration process and virtual participation options, please visit: halifax.ca/person-public-participation. Residents can also contact the Municipal Clerk’s Office at clerks@halifax.ca or 902-490-4210.
Every year, Council approves a Budget and Business Plan and a Capital Plan. These documents represent the annual municipal budget, which funds all costs associated with servicing our municipality.
On April 8, 2025, Council directed the Chief Administrative Officer to build a budget that will keep municipal 2025/26 spending at levels that will minimize property tax increases, with exceptions for inflation, contractual obligations, mandatory provincial contributions and items already approved. Despite these constraints, unavoidable cost drivers associated with Council-approved expenditures and commitments have resulted in an estimated average tax bill increase of 10.9 per cent.
As the municipality continues to grow and residents face challenges with affordability, our budget will focus on sustainable delivery of services and finding operational efficiencies, while searching for opportunities for revenue diversification. This budget process is grounded in the municipality’s new 2026-30 Strategic Plan, ensuring financial decisions are rooted in the municipality’s long-term vision.
In early March, the Budget Committee will review the Budget Adjustment List. This includes all additional items that business units have presented beyond their proposed budgets, including add-ons and subtractions. Council will provide a full review of the 2026/27 Budget & Business Plan and Capital Plan on March 31, 2026.
For more information about the 2026/27 municipal budget and the schedule for business unit presentations, visit: halifax.ca/budget.
