UNSM-HRM NEWS RELEASE
Municipal leaders set to converge on Province House
(April 14, 2011) Halifax - Municipal leaders from across Nova Scotia will converge on the Legislature on Friday morning to urge the Dexter Government not to go back on a 2007 provincial commitment to absorb millions of dollars in costs, formerly shouldered by local ratepayers.
This unprecedented action is being coordinated by Mayor Billy Joe MacLean, president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, and Mayor Peter Kelly of the Halifax Regional Municipality. Mayors, wardens and councillors representing 85% of the province have indicated they plan to attend.
The officials will leave City Hall at approximately 10:15 a.m. and walk to Province House where a letter of concern will be handed to the Premier, Finance Minister Graham Steele and John MacDonell, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. The letter will urge the Province to reconsider its decision to nullify the landmark agreement, as it recently said it was going to do.
“We have organized this as a way to unite our municipal leaders and to send a clear message to the Province that the gutting of our memorandum of understanding is unacceptable,” said Mayor MacLean.
Mayor Kelly urged the Province to honour its word; otherwise, local authorities will be forced to increase property taxes.
“This will cost HRM $46 million over the next four years,” he said. “With this decision, the Province has clearly chosen to balance its books on the backs of municipal taxpayers.”
Mayor MacLean said many municipalities were counting on the savings to be able to afford much-needed infrastructure upgrades, services and tax breaks for residents.
“As a result of this download, municipalities may be forced to raise tax rates, cut services, lay off staff, or a combination of all three,” Mayor MacLean added.
Under the current agreement, municipalities were saving more than $100 million over seven years as the result of the Province agreeing to gradually take over financial responsibility for corrections and public housing and limiting increased municipal contributions to education at the rate of the Consumer Price Index.
“The Province is better able to absorb these expenses than our property taxpayers,” said Mayor Kelly.
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For interviews or more information, contact:
Mayor Billy Joe MacLean, President
Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities
902-631-0066
Mayor Peter Kelly
Halifax Regional Municipality
902-490-4010
NOTE: Mayor Billy Joe MacLean, Mayor Peter Kelly and other municipal leaders will be available to the media at Province House upon arrival, at approximately 10:30 a.m.
