Halifax regional council votes in favour of budget

Halifax regional council voted unanimously in favour of the 2016-2017 budget that includes $725 million for operating and $198 million for capital projects.

There will be a slight reduction in the tax rate and the average residential tax bill will remain the same.

Mayor Mike Savage says he believes council found a balance.

"Our actual operational expenditures have actually gone down and we're doing it when I think as a city in my view we're becoming cleaner, greener, more active, more healthy. I think we're becoming more accessible and more inclusive," said the mayor.

A regular council meeting followed the budget debate. The regular agenda included a look at councillor compensation, changes to cemetery fees, and a request to review rink fees.

Salary process 'flawed'

A report on how to calculate the salaries of Halifax councillors got a rough ride at city hall.

An independent committee recommended a new formula that would base councillor salaries on an average employees' salary plus 25 per cent and freeze the rates for the time being.

After hours of debate, councillors refused to accept any of the proposed changes.

Coun. Barry Dalrymple didn't feel comfortable even dealing with the report.

"I purposely didn't read it. Democracy says we can debate this well I'm not going to," he said.

Right now, salaries are based on what what councillors are paid in a certain number of other cities.

Coun.Russell Walker didn't want anything to do with the proposed changes.

"This whole process is flawed. I am not overpaid. This report says I am overpaid. If you do the math it would take eight years to get a raise," said Walker.

Coun. Jennifer Watts was looking for a compromise.

"I don't like the status quo and I'm looking for a change. Is there a way to not tie it to that formula but have a freeze?"

The existing method of calculating the mayor and councillors' salaries on an annual basis remains in place.

The CBC's Pam Berman live tweeted from the meeting.