Scotiabank Centre needs ‘significant investments,’ Halifax council learns

Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore is asking his staff to maintain steady spending levels ahead of next year’s budget.

Halifax may have approved its municipal budget a month ago, but the mayor is already looking ahead to next year’s finances.

Andy Fillmore is hoping to give staff a starting point for the 2027-2028 budget, asking them to maintain flat or steady spending levels, or to not seek service improvements. The only consideration for increases would come from inflation or mandatory hikes like collective agreements, “and items approved by Council.”

It’s an identical motion to one he brought forward to the last budget debate, which just saw a 9.5 per cent increase to the municipal portion of the average residential tax bill, all totaling a 7.5 per cent hike to property owners.

Asked if the motion was successful based on those results, Fillmore told reporters, “It certainly helps.”

“As we’ve discussed before, I was not happy with where we wound up on the increase to the average tax bill,” he said. “But, had we not passed the motion last year, I think it would have been much worse.”

Fillmore said the motion allows council to remain diligent and make the right spending choices.

Acting chief administrative officer Brad Anguish said it’s nice to have direction earlier rather than later to help avoid surprises down the road.

The motion passed 14-to-one, with councillor Laura White voting against it.

Scotiabank Centre repairs

Councillors were told some decisions will need to be made in the coming years about Scotiabank Centre, which needs capital repairs as it approaches its 50^th anniversary.

The new Events East CEO Suzanne Fougere presented to city councillors seeking approval for its $2.4-million business plan to manage the Scotiabank Centre and Halifax Convention Centre. That support was received.

But Fougere said it’s time to think about the arena’s future.

“We’re just reaching the stage now that it’s time to start thinking about the more significant investments that will be required as it nears 50 years of age,” she said.

Fougere told council that “the age and configuration” of the building are “starting to show.”

The arena, she said, is not meeting accessibility standards, and technology and sustainability improvements need to be looked at.

Few details beyond that were shared, but Fillmore told reporters spending on those facilities is a “non-negotiable” due to their value.

“The economic return, both direct and indirect, are enormous from Scotiabank Centre and from Halifax Convention Centre,” Fillmore said.

“They need to be fed, maintained and cared for, so I would put that in the ‘necessary’ column, and we’ll have to manage the costs.”

Fougere told councillors the combined economic impact from both venues is estimated to be $139 million thanks to 280 events.

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