Audit reveals half of Halifax's municipal facilities unassessed for a decade or more
A new audit by the Halifax Regional Municipality's auditor general found significant gaps in data and oversight for 359 city facilities and over 7,000 pieces of equipment. Half of the buildings have not been assessed in the past decade or ever, raising concerns about safety and unnecessary spending. The city has accepted all 12 recommendations and hired a consultant to assess all facilities over the next five years.
An audit by the Halifax Regional Municipality's auditor general has revealed that the city is not properly overseeing its municipal facilities and equipment, creating potential safety concerns and unnecessary spending. The report identified significant gaps in data and oversight for the city’s 359 facilities and over 7,000 pieces of equipment.
The audit examined documentation from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2025. It found that management does not know the condition of most Halifax-owned buildings and equipment, nor the extent of delayed maintenance, because assessments are inconsistent. According to the report, 96 buildings had never been assessed, including 43 that were more than 25 years old. Another 91 facilities had not been reassessed for more than a decade.
Halifax auditor general Andrew Atherton stated it is difficult to make good decisions about building upkeep without knowing its condition. He noted that the property, fleet and environment department does not have an adequate facility management plan and relies on informal practices.
The audit highlighted several specific record-keeping failures. One major gap occurs when construction or renovation details are not properly documented during handover. As a result, the year of construction was not documented for 137 properties. Additionally, two Halifax-owned buildings were logged as non-municipal facilities, though maintenance is still happening in one of them.
Operational errors were also cited. In one case, an emergency repair supposed to be done in 30 days took 10 months because staff forgot to inform the contractor. Maintenance was also booked on a sprinkler system that did not exist.
Warranty information was not listed for more than 90 per cent of pieces of equipment in the system. Atherton stated it is safe to assume public money was likely spent on repairs that should have been covered by equipment vendors.
In response to the findings, staff have hired a consultant to assess all municipal facilities over the next five years. Atherton said his office was told the first round of assessments was done in July, but they did not verify that update.
The municipality has accepted all 12 of the audit recommendations. Management will request new staff roles in the upcoming city budget to carry out the recommendations. Halifax chief administrative officer Marnie Cluckie said follow-through on recommendations is crucial for reliable service delivery and responsible use of funds.