The mayor of Halifax says he is feeling a tremendous amount of pressure as budget talks continue and a possible tax increase of 10.9 per cent looms.
Andy Fillmore has been deliberating alongside Council on how to rein in spending.
“I’m working hard with Council to make the budget much more disciplined and giving direction to the municipal staff to build a really bare bones plan,” says Fillmore.
He says that involves core things like everyday services, transit, filling in potholes and taking a closer look at some big-ticket items.
Bike lanes
The AAA bike lane network, suitable for all ages, is now looking at an $85 million price tag.
Fillmore says they’ve managed to knock about $1.7 million off the cost last week but there is still more work to do.
“A different standard at which we can build this that’s not so expensive. Build the Buick instead of the Cadillac,” explains Fillmore.
What does that mean?
“It has to do with curbs and relocating utilities. Go back to paint and those green paddles. That way we could build the whole network faster [and] cheaper,” says Fillmore.
Forum
The Halifax Forum has been a mainstay in the north end for 100 years.
It’s been slated for redevelopment since 2014 but, again due to rising costs, Fillmore wants to defer the project so it can be built in a different location and has received positive feedback on the matter.
“We’ve just sort of been …hold your breath or hold your nose, decision after another as more costs get added. This new council and new mayor are an opportunity to say, wet a second, this has really gotten out of control,” says Fillmore.
“There’s no way that a two-pad ice facility with some other community services around it, through locker rooms and meeting spaces, should be costing almost $130 million.”
He says the land is a “golden spot” for housing, including homes that are affordable and that a two-pad rink should only cost about $45 million.
Mill Cove ferry
Five high-speed electric ferries are set for the Bedford waterfront with an investment from all three levels of government.
Only, it will cost $260 million, impacting roughly 5,000 residents by 2030 or so.
Last week, Councillor Kathryn Morse suggested looking at cancelling the project due to the cost, which was voted down.
Fillmore says he thinks the more affordable way to go about it, is for the ferry to be a hybrid model.
“Hybrids charge while they’re operating. So, they don’t really have any appreciable down time. There are a number of benefits to that, and it makes sense for the pocketbooks of taxpayers and the pocketbook at City Hall,” explains Fillmore.
If all goes well, the budget will be voted on by the end of March.
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