Budget Makes Life Better for HRM Families

NOTE: A social media version of this release with a video clip is available at http://gov.ns.ca/news/smr/2011-04-05-Budget-2011/ . Photos and audio clips will be added soon.

Help for students, patients needing hip and knee surgery, and area infrastructure are some of the highlights for Halifax Regional Municipality in the provincial budget today, April 5th.

"This budget invests in health care, growing the economy, helping people make ends meet, all while ensuring government lives within its means," said Finance Minister Graham Steele. "We still have a difficult financial situation to address, but this budget shows that we are on target to balance in 2013, as promised."

Highlights for HRM in today's budget include:

• continuing the successful orthopedic surgery program that has cut consultation wait times for patients, supports a successful surgery and helps ensure a quicker recovery
• changes to student assistance that will make attending Nova Scotia universities more affordable for families
• expanding the hours at Cobequid Community Health Centre
• continued funding for the new Rapid Assessment Unit and beds at the Halifax Infirmary to improve the speed and care of patients arriving by ambulance
• three new radiation units at Capital District Health Authority
• new nursing home beds in Dartmouth, Upper Hammonds Plains and Sheet Harbour
• continuing nursing seats at Dalhousie University
• $5 million to help Halifax Stanfield International Airport extend its runway to allow the airport to handle larger wide-bodied and heavy aircraft and enhance the airport's position as a key international air cargo and passenger hub
• helping HRM's entrepreneurs by reducing the small business tax to four per cent from 4.5 per cent, the second consecutive year it has declined
• funding for the exciting Cable Wharf-Queens Landing project on the Halifax waterfront
• continued and stable funding support for the Halifax Public Libraries system
• funding to build a new medical examiner facility and improve the Halifax Law Courts
• improvements to Highway 118 and other road upgrade and paving projects
• continued and stable support for local museums, such as the Museum of Natural History
• funding for new schools, including Joseph Howe School in Halifax, Prince Arthur/Southdale-North Woodside School in Dartmouth and Bedford High School, and improvements to other HRM schools.

Total revenues for 2011-12, including net income from government business enterprises, are estimated at $8.5 billion, a decrease of $133 million over the 2010-11 estimates.

The 2011 budget projects a deficit of $389.6 million. This is in line with the $370 million deficit anticipated in the province’s four-year fiscal plan.

Total expenses for fiscal 2011-12 are budgeted at $9.3 billion, up $323.0 million from 2010-11, entirely due to the reinstatement of university funding.

Total revenues for 2011-12, including net income from government business enterprises, are estimated at $8.5 billion, a decrease of $133 million over the 2010-11 estimates.

The 2011 budget projects a deficit of $389.6 million. This is in line with the $370-million deficit anticipated in the province's four-year fiscal plan.

Total expenses for fiscal 2011-12 are budgeted at $9.3 billion, up $323.0 million from 2010-11, entirely because of reinstating university funding.

Today's budget also includes:

• investing $42.5 million to help make post-secondary education more affordable
• opening at least four new Collaborative Emergency Centres this year
• providing tax breaks, such as an increase in the basic personal amount by $250
• reducing departmental spending by $170 million
• investing $28 million to improve business productivity
• providing $7.9 million to low-income families to help make ends meet.

For more information on the 2011-12 provincial budget, visit www.gov.ns.ca .