Halifax, NS: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is urging Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) council to debate the automatic pay hike for city council that will boost their wages, effective today.
“Given that the city is facing a budget deficit, it’s time for the citizens of Halifax to review the formula for these year-over-year city council pay raises,” says Kevin Lacey, Atlantic Director Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “It’s been six years since the pay formula was put it place -- after all this time, a review is long overdue.”
The CTF is also calling on HRM to review the $1.5 million dollar slush fund controlled by the 23 HRM city councillors.
“Let’s put an end to the vote-buying slush fund -- our politicians should not be treating taxpayer dollars like their own petty cash,” says Lacey.
Each councillor is allowed to spend $65,000 on capital projects per year. Funds can only be donated to not-for-profit groups, and payments must adhere to the district capital policy. Councillors receive another discretionary fund of $3,000 that may be spent on any not-for-profit organization the councillor chooses.
“If these projects are worthy they should go through the budget process and get voted on just like every other spending item,” added Lacey. “Letting individual city councillors cut these cheques is a recipe for corruption and vote buying.”
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