The recent failure by HRM Council to bring in tax reform is another reason why amalgamation should be on the chopping block.
This council simply cannot work as a cohesive group of problem-solvers. The failure to make a simple decision over snow removal, the cat bylaw fiasco and the harbour cleanup are all examples how this arrangement is not working and will continue to destroy any hope of progress for this area.
Council should agree that the rural and urban centres have had separate agendas since amalgamation in 1996. Council should act on the wishes of the population where over 60 percent want amalgamation to alter its course.
Why should someone in Sheet Harbour have any input as to whether or not Halifax or Dartmouth get new sidewalks? This also applies in the reverse. We are simply too big of an area to govern under one roof.
A new Halifax municipality would include Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville and Cole Harbour. The smaller areas could go on to form their own municipality.
The new government of Nova Scotia can change the present setup if this council shows the courage to do so. Saying it would cost too much money is ignoring the fact that HRM in its present structure is dysfunctional, and I urge others to prove otherwise. —Jim Hoskins, Halifax
This article appears in Feb 4-10, 2010.
I believe that the number of taxpayers in Halifax urban areas who want to disolve the HRM amalgamation is far greater that the 60% figure mentioned. This forced amalgamation is a failure, and the costs involved in disolving HRM are far less that the costs to taxpayers in continuing this idiocy.
It is incredible that the current NDP government refuses to consider breaking up this failure up. The provincial government will not even discuss the possibility. Why is that?
I do think it would be better to re-establish the four former jurisdisctions of the Cities of Halifax and Dartmouth, the Town of Bedford and the County rather that some sort of urban rural split. The political arguments would continue under such a split.
We need a vaiety of choices on where to live, and what appropriate levels of municipal services.These choices do not exist under the forced HRM amalgamation. Each re-established jurisdiction must have control of spending and taxation. The current system of regional taxation and spending is unbalanced and the regional planning ‘visions’ by HRM are absurd. Most people in Halifax County agree.
Jim Hoskin’s …nicely said & I couldn’t agree more.
Returning the jurisdiction to the old City of Halifax boundaries of 1996 is the best option for former City of Halifax residents and Halifax residential taxpayers. I believe reviving the City of Halifax jurisdiction could occur without the other jurisdictions leaving the amalgamation.
It is surely the best option for Halifax city taxpayers cost wise, as all of City of Halifax property taxes generated within its’ jurisdiction would be for use of the City, not the whole county.
Halifax County now has the Water Authority, a Transit Authority and hopefully a Police Authority.
There is little need, nor is their much desire among Haligonians, for HRM regional government and its absurd politics.
Reviving the jurisdiction of the City of Halifax would cost far less than a sports stadium.