Halifax Regional Council Approves 2026/27 Budget with 7.5% Property Tax Increase
The Halifax Regional Municipality's Regional Council has approved the 2026/27 municipal budget, featuring a $1.45 billion operating budget and a $316.7 million capital budget. The plan includes a 7.5% increase in property taxes, new transit and emergency services, and various revenue-generating measures.
The Halifax Regional Municipality’s Regional Council has officially approved the 2026/27 municipal budget. This financial plan comprises an operating budget of $1.45 billion and a capital budget of $316.7 million.
A significant component of the new budget is a 7.5 per cent increase to average residential and commercial property tax bills. For the average single-family home, which has an assessment value of $357,500, this results in an estimated tax bill increase of $284. Updated residential and commercial tax rates are scheduled to be published on halifax.ca/taxrates by no later than April 1.
The budget allocates funds for several key service enhancements. Halifax Transit will see improved capacity through the addition of 10 articulated buses and 24 new bus operators. Community safety initiatives include hiring 10 additional firefighters and eight Emergency Response Communicators.
To support these expenditures, the municipality is introducing new revenue-generating measures. These include implementing paid parking on Saturdays, increasing existing parking fees, and raising transit fares by $0.25. Additionally, the council is establishing debt guardrails to ensure that debt servicing costs remain at or below 12 per cent of municipal revenues.
Environmental considerations have also been integrated into the budget strategy. The municipality plans to reduce paper waste by eliminating printed voting ballots, as well as printed Halifax Transit Riders’ Guides and Route Maps.