THE MUNICIPALITY OF THE COUNTY OF KINGS
To: Committee of the Whole Subject: Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) From: Deputy Mayor Emily Lutz Date of Meeting: February 7th, 2020
NSFM Proposal About Equity and Fairness: Mood
An All-Party Committee reviewing the Capped Assessment Program kicked off a series of meetings Wednesday morning in Halifax.
Three half-days are set aside for the committee meetings, which will include presentations from more than a dozen stakeholders, and a review of NSFM’s proposal to phase out the CAP program.
The committee is made up of representatives from all three provincial parties. As all political parties supported the introduction of the program in 2005, it makes sense that any future changes to the program are agreed upon by all parties.
The committee is chaired by NSFM President Pam Mood and includes Keith Irving (Liberal MLA), Tim Houston (Conservative Leader) and Gary Burrill (NDP Leader), along with Department of Municipal Affairs critics Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin (Conservative) and Lisa Roberts (NDP).
"This is all about equity and fairness in the tax system," said Mood. "The CAP is not working."
During the two-hour session Wednesday morning at the Westin Hotel, committee members heard an overview of NSFM’s proposal (available here: Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) CAP Proposal), and reviewed a Terms of Reference.
NSFM’s proposal includes spike protection legislation for homeowners who have increases in taxable assessments of 10% or more. There’s also legislation proposed to protect low-income Nova Scotians and seniors, and a five-year review to ensure it’s achieving its intended goals.
“The phase out is over a long period of time so that there’s not significant hardship for homeowners in any given year,” says NSFM CEO Juanita Spencer.
The All-Party Committee review includes many documents and much data, but the most important aspect will be hearing from the presenters, said NSFM President Pam Mood.
“Every single person who presents is going to put something different on the table,” said Mood, referring to the list of 15 which includes Investment Canadian Association of Retired Persons, Immigrant Settlement Association of Nova Scotia, Property Owners Association of NS, Nova Scotia Association of Realtors and Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association.
Mayors of four Nova Scotian municipalities – including Cecil Clarke (CBRM), David Devenne (Mahone Bay), Carolyn Bolivar Getson (MODL) and Mike Savage (HRM) – will also present to the committee.
Meetings resume Thursday at 1 p.m. when first presenter Kevin Russell of IPOANS takes to the podium.
The findings of the committee will be delivered in a report to Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Chuck Porter before the Feb. 20 return of the Legislature.
Throughout 2019, staff and board members of Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities have worked to get all-party support for a resolution to remove the CAP.
The CAP was introduced in 2005 to protect Nova Scotians who were experiencing sudden and dramatic increases to their property tax bills.
Over time, distortion in the system has led to a majority of Nova Scotians overpaying and subsidizing others.
It disproportionately benefits high value homes, and many homeowners are paying more under the CAP than they would without it.
NSFM’s proposal includes a multi-year (13 year) phase out to gradually even out any increases in the return to a more equitable system, says NSFM CEO Juanita Spencer.
NSFM opposed the CAP before it was implemented. Eliminating the CAP has been a focus for NSFM members – the 379 mayors, wardens and councillors elected to municipal councils across Nova Scotia -- for 15 years.
In January 2019, a committee was established with membership including representatives from Association of Municipal Administrators of Nova Scotia and elected and executive members of NSFM.
The committee met with members of all three parties, made presentations to members and individual councils, and met with almost a dozen stakeholders.
During 2019, there were more than 60 meetings and presentations throughout the province.
For a detailed list of meetings and the membership of the CAP committee, see: https://www.nsfm.ca/capped-assessment-program.html
The next meeting of the NSFM Board is February 7th at 8:30am. There is an optional Media Training Session for board members the afternoon and evening before (Feb 6th) which I will be travelling up to attend.
I have also been invited to participate in a meeting with Coral Ross, the National Vice President of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association, as VP of the NSFM, in order to chat about different initiatives our organizations are taking to support and encourage more women to run for office. This will be taking place February 7th in the afternoon. THE MUNICIPALITY OF THE COUNTY OF KINGS
To: Committee of the Whole Subject: Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) Board Report From: Deputy Mayor Emily Lutz Date of Meeting: February 7th, 2020
The most recent meeting of the NSFM Board was February 7th at 8:30am. There was an optional Media Training Session for Board members the afternoon and evening before (Feb 6th) which I travelled up to attend. I was also invited to participate in a meeting with Coral Ross, the National Vice President of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association, as VP of the NSFM, in order to talk about different initiatives our organizations are taking to support and encourage more women to run for office. This took place February 7th in the afternoon after the completion of the Board meeting. Below you will see the communications circulated by the NSFM Communications staff regarding the progress of discussions around removing the cap on property assessment. Respectfully submitted,
Emily Lutz
January 29th, 2020
NSFM Proposal About Equity and Fairness: Mood
An All-Party Committee reviewing the Capped Assessment Program kicked off a series of meetings Wednesday morning in Halifax.
Three half-days are set aside for the committee meetings, which will include presentations from more than a dozen stakeholders, and a review of NSFM’s proposal to phase out the CAP program.
The committee is made up of representatives from all three provincial parties. As all political parties supported the introduction of the program in 2005, it makes sense that any future changes to the program are agreed upon by all parties.
The committee is chaired by NSFM President Pam Mood and includes Keith Irving (Liberal MLA), Tim Houston (Conservative Leader) and Gary Burrill (NDP Leader), along with Department of Municipal Affairs critics Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin (Conservative) and Lisa Roberts (NDP).
"This is all about equity and fairness in the tax system," said Mood. "The CAP is not working."
During the two-hour session Wednesday morning at the Westin Hotel, committee members heard an overview of NSFM’s proposal (available here: Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) CAP Proposal), and reviewed a Terms of Reference.
NSFM’s proposal includes spike protection legislation for homeowners who have increases in taxable assessments of 10% or more. There’s also legislation proposed to protect low-income Nova Scotians and seniors, and a five-year review to ensure it’s achieving its intended goals.
“The phase out is over a long period of time so that there’s not significant hardship for homeowners in any given year,” says NSFM CEO Juanita Spencer.
The All-Party Committee review includes many documents and much data, but the most important aspect will be hearing from the presenters, said NSFM President Pam Mood.
“Every single person who presents is going to put something different on the table,” said Mood, referring to the list of 15 which includes Investment Canadian Association of Retired Persons, Immigrant Settlement Association of Nova Scotia, Property Owners Association of NS, Nova Scotia Association of Realtors and Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association.
Mayors of four Nova Scotian municipalities – including Cecil Clarke (CBRM), David Devenne (Mahone Bay), Carolyn Bolivar Getson (MODL) and Mike Savage (HRM) – will also present to the committee.
Meetings resume Thursday at 1 p.m. when first presenter Kevin Russell of IPOANS takes to the podium.
The findings of the committee will be delivered in a report to Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Chuck Porter before the Feb. 20 return of the Legislature.
Throughout 2019, staff and board members of Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities have worked to get all-party support for a resolution to remove the CAP.
The CAP was introduced in 2005 to protect Nova Scotians who were experiencing sudden and dramatic increases to their property tax bills.
Over time, distortion in the system has led to a majority of Nova Scotians overpaying and subsidizing others.
It disproportionately benefits high value homes, and many homeowners are paying more under the CAP than they would without it.
NSFM’s proposal includes a multi-year (13 year) phase out to gradually even out any increases in the return to a more equitable system, says NSFM CEO Juanita Spencer.
NSFM opposed the CAP before it was implemented. Eliminating the CAP has been a focus for NSFM members – the 379 mayors, wardens and councillors elected to municipal councils across Nova Scotia -- for 15 years.
In January 2019, a committee was established with membership including representatives from Association of Municipal Administrators of Nova Scotia and elected and executive members of NSFM.
The committee met with members of all three parties, made presentations to members and individual councils, and met with almost a dozen stakeholders.
During 2019, there were more than 60 meetings and presentations throughout the province.
For a detailed list of meetings and the membership of the CAP committee, see: https://www.nsfm.ca/capped-assessment-program.html
January 30th, 2020
All-Party Committee Hears Submissions About CAP
The all-party committee reviewing NSFM’s proposal to phase out the Capped Assessment Program heard almost a dozen submissions during a session Thursday afternoon.
The presenters represented a variety of groups and had differing views on the CAP. It’s important to hear from everyone, says NSFM CEO Juanita Spencer.
The all-party committee is tasked with reviewing NSFM’s proposal to phase the program out over 13 years.
NSFM’s proposal includes spike protection legislation for homeowners who have increases in taxable assessments of 10% or more. There’s also legislation proposed to protect low-income Nova Scotians and seniors, and a five-year review to ensure it’s achieving its intended goals.
Thursday’s three-hour sitting at the Westin Hotel in Halifax marked Day Two for the committee.
The committee reconvenes Monday afternoon for its last session. The committee is made up of representatives from all three provincial parties. As all political parties supported the introduction of the program in 2005, it makes sense that any future changes to the program are agreed upon by all parties. The committee is chaired by NSFM President Pam Mood and includes Keith Irving (Liberal MLA), Tim Houston (Conservative Leader) and Gary Burrill (NDP Leader), along with Department of Municipal Affairs critics Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin (Conservative) and Lisa Roberts (NDP). Presenters on Thursday were given 10 minutes to present and five minutes to answer questions. They were:
- Kevin Russell from Investment Property Owners’ Association of Nova Scotia (IPOANS) - Ron Swan and Bill VanGorder from Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) - Lisa Glennie from Nova Scotia Real Estate Appraisers’ Association (NSREAA) - Paige Hoveling from Nova Scotia Association of Realtors (NSAR) - Mayor David Devenne, Town of Mahone Bay - Mayor Mike Savage, Halifax Regional Municipality - Jim DeCoste, Canadian Mortgage Brokers’ Association-Atlantic (CMBA-A) - Devon Cassidy, Canadian Condominium Institute (CCI) - Dr. Michael Bradfield, Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives (CCPANS) - Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, MODL
The findings of the committee will be delivered in a report to Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Chuck Porter before the Feb. 20 return of the Legislature. Throughout 2019, staff and board members of Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities have worked to get all-party support for a resolution to remove the CAP. The CAP was introduced in 2005 to protect Nova Scotians who were experiencing sudden and dramatic increases to their property tax bills. Over time, distortion in the system has led to a majority of Nova Scotians overpaying and subsidizing others. It disproportionately benefits high value homes, and many homeowners are paying more under the CAP than they would without it. To read NSFM’s proposal see: https://www.nsfm.ca/capped-assessment-program.html February 3rd, 2020
The All-Party Committee reviewing NSFM’s proposal to phase out the Capped Assessment Program will reconvene in a few weeks’ time
At the close of Monday's afternoon session, members of the committee – including Keith Irving (Liberal MLA), Tim Houston (Conservative Leader) and Gary Burrill (NDP Leader), along with Department of Municipal Affairs critics Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin (Conservative) and Lisa Roberts (NDP) – agreed to return to the table.
Houston has asked for information from the Department of Municipal Affairs and it will be circulated to all parties once it’s provided by the Government.
Monday marked the third day - and nine hours - of meetings for the committee, which is chaired by NSFM President Pam Mood.
“We, as politicians, have agreed to work for the greater good of all Nova Scotians. The fact that we are all here today shows that there are issues with the CAP,” said Mayor Mood.
“The majority of Nova Scotians are overpaying with the CAP. The program is pitting resident against resident and choosing winners and losers right in your own communities. If someone is saving under the CAP in your community, the shortfall isn’t made up by someone in another district. It’s someone down the block, their parents, their friends who has to dig deeper to pay the bill.”
The CAP issue has been ongoing for members of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities. In fact, NSFM opposed the program when it was first introduced in 2005.
Over the past 15 years, members have voted repeatedly for action on the CAP through NSFM’s Resolution process at spring meetings and at fall AGMs.
“Getting this issue in front of an all-party committee is a first for NSFM,” said CEO Juanita Spencer.
NSFM’s new direction, and the recent switch to a shorter list of Resolutions, has helped NSFM achieve this goal, she said.
On Monday at the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel, the committee heard presentations from five associations, including:
• Patrick Sullivan, Halifax Chamber of Commerce • Mayor Cecil Clarke, Cape Breton Regional Municipality • Larry Haiven, Friends of Schmidtville • Jennifer Watts, Immigrant Settlement Association of Nova Scotia • Neil Lovitt, Turner Drake The all-party committee is tasked with reviewing NSFM’s proposal to phase the program out over 13 years.
NSFM’s proposal includes spike protection legislation for homeowners who have increases in taxable assessments of 10% or more. There’s also legislation proposed to protect low-income Nova Scotians and seniors, and a five-year review to ensure it’s achieving its intended goals.