CFIB says city overspending cost Halifax households $2,869 over 10 years

A report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesssays the Halifax Regional Municipality overspent by$465 million between 2003 and 2013.

The advocacy and lobbying group says that overspendingcosthousehold's an average of $2,869 over a decade orjust under $24a month.

The report says Halifax's inflation-adjusted spending on operations grew by 20 per cent, which was 2 times more thanthe rate of population growth.

The report also criticized other Canadian cities for spending too much, although it credited some with keeping expenses in check.

CFIB says senior levels of government should freeze additional general-purpose funding to municipalities until cities "better manage their operating spending."

In a news release, CFIB said the problem lies with employee compensation. In the case of Halifax,wages, salaries and benefits account for more than half of the city's operating spending.

During the 10-year period studied in thereport, CFIB says real spending on HRMemployeesalaries, wages and benefits grew by 38 per cent, compared to the municipality's eight per centpopulation growth.