Property
Taxes & Housing Assistance Programs
Residential
Property Tax Exemption Program
Halifax
Regional Municipality can help homeowners pay their property tax through
a payment plan, a property tax rebate, or deferral of property taxes
(payment is put off to a later date). These programs are available to
all homeowners with a combined household income of $28,000 or less a
year who live within the boundary of Halifax Regional Municipality.
If
you wish to learn more about this program you can obtain information and
an application by calling 490-5454.
Other
Housing Assistance Programs
There
are other assistance programs at the Provincial and Municipal level that
you may qualify for. For example:
Provincial
Seniors Property Tax Exemption Program: This program is for seniors who have been
receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement prior to January 1st of each
year. Criteria requires you to have paid your property taxes from the
prior year in full. A receipt Residential Property Tax Exemption Program
from HRM showing property taxes are paid in full is required by the
program. Applicants to this program receive a rebate on half of their
taxes paid to a maximum of $400. Applications are available from Service
Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations by calling 424-4500 or toll free at
1-877-296-9338.
Provincial
Home Repairs Programs:
There are approximately 15 different programs available to low income
homeowners and seniors which will assist in the repair and maintenance
of your home. This includes, but is not limited to, roof replacement,
upgrades to wiring, windows, doors, ramps, and furnace replacement. For
information on these programs call Nova Scotia Department of Community
Services (Housing) 424-5110 or toll free at 1-800-774-5130.
Provincial
CAP Assessment Program:
The CAP Assessment Program is a provincial program designed to protect
Nova Scotia property owners from dramatic increases in market value
assessment by limiting or “capping” the amount of the annual
assessment increase. For information on this program call 424-5225 or
toll free at 1-800-667-5727.
Tax
Reform
In
the spring of 2008 the HRM Tax Reform Committee presented their report
advocating changes to our municipal tax system. The current tax system
is based on property values, while the committee proposes it should be
based on the cost of services provided. As well they would like to see
the elimination of the Deed Transfer Tax, proposing that this be added
to the general tax rate to be shared by everyone, resulting in a $35
million annual burden for taxpayers.
While
I do agree we need a fair and equitable tax system I have concerns with
the method proposed by the Tax Reform Committee. Public information
meetings were held throughout the municipality this past spring and I
have received numerous calls from residents expressing their concerns.
Residents
of District 1 would, for the most part, be adversely affected by the
proposed changes. Properties assessed under $200,000 could potentially
experience tax increases as well as owners of large tracts of land or
resource based properties. Currently it is unclear what effect this
proposal will have on houses with basement apartments or mobile homes.
This
proposal is still in the draft stage and has not yet been presented to
Halifax Regional Council. I encourage anyone with any questions or
concerns about the tax reform issue to email taxreform@halifax.ca
or call 490-4886.
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