- Given the Province's current deficit, there were no huge surprises for municipalities with Thursday's budget announcement.
- The establishment of a department dedicated to municipal affairs is a positive move. This new department includes the Fire Marshall's Office and the Emergency Measures Office. Within the department's budget, the Capacity Building Grant will be increased from $233,000 to $491,000. This money will be used to address governance issues and asset management.
- Given the impacts of climate change, the Province announced a $1 million program for flood mitigation and flood mapping.
- As previously announced, the Federal Gas Tax Fund for 2014-15 will be $53.2 million. There was no formal budget figure provided for the new Building Canada Fund. The Province has allocated funding for the program but no figures were provided.
- On the negative side, municipalities continue to pay significant costs for provincial services including $223.8 million for public education, an increase of $8.9 million over last year. Municipalities will also pay $13.9 million for Corrections and $7 million for Public Housing, similar to last year. RCMP costs are expected to go up by 1.5 per cent as well as DNA costs which will go from $219,000 to $512,000. The Provincial Capital Assistance Program was reduced from $3.75 million to $3.05 million.
- Other programs of interest to municipalities include:
$170,000 grant for Age Friendly Community Grants
$250,000 grant for Senior Safety Program
$1 million for public transit outside of HRM and $500,000 for community transit.
$1.5 million for fire protection, an increase of $286,000
$3. Million to support the new Housing Strategy
$2.1 million to establish Regional Enterprise Networks
Funding for public libraries will be increased by $200,000 to over $14 million. [My note... less than 1.5 percent]
