Halifax (HRM) Municipal Taxation Reform
To: Mayor Peter Kelly and members of HRM Council
We the Homeowner Associations of District 23 (listed below) representing approximately 25,000 residents strongly urge that HRM Council continue the process of reforming the municipal taxation structure. We support the general thrust of the Tax Reform Committee report that was presented to Council on June 17, 2009. We appreciate that change is never easy, so we look to our elected representatives to exhibit the courage and determination to correct the many inequities identified by the Tax Reform Committee.
We wish to point out that:
HRM Council in March 2005 and October 2006 endorsed the review of the tax structure in order to move away from the dependence on assessment-based revenue.
A majority of municipal residents support reform as expressed during the 30+ months of public consultations and focus groups.
Roughly 80% of HRM revenues come from property assessments versus the Canadian average of 40%.
According to the Tax reform Committee the current tax system does not support the HRM Regional Plan.
“…there is a poor link between (assessment) values and services”.
“The value of one’s home (assessment) is not a good predictor of one’s income” (ability to pay).
According to the committee the current system is overly dependent on property assessments and must be changed
We recognize that the funding of municipalities is a complex and sensitive issue and that solutions that are both fair to the taxpayers and to the financial requirements of HRM will not be found quickly. However in our view, it is essential that the steps towards reform be continued as soon as possible.
Surely this Mayor and Council do not want to be perceived as being afraid to correct a financial system, which is so clearly unfair to so many of their constituents.
Submitted on behalf of the residents of the following Homeowner Associations in District 23:
Birch Bear Run Homeowners’ Association
Glen Arbour Homeowners’ Association
Haliburton Highbury Homeowners’ Association
Highland Park Ratepayers’ Association
Kingswood Ratepayers’ Association
Maplewood Subdivision Homeowners’ Association
St. Margaret’s Bay /Fox Hollow Homeowners’ Association
Upper Hammonds Plains Community Development Association
Westwood Hills Residents’ Association
White Hills Residents’ Association
To be Delivered to the Office of the Municipal Clerks Office on Wednesday September 16th/09
Posted by Paulette Upshall
on September 10, 2009