HALIFAX/BEAVER BANK: Halifax Regional Municipality’s Audit and Finance Standing Committee has approved a motion from Mayor Andy Fillmore further strengthening oversight of the implementation of the Municipal Auditor General’s Capital Budget Audit recommendations.
The Auditor General’s June 2026 audit identified weaknesses in HRM’s capital budgeting process, including project prioritization, cost estimating, governance, and documentation.
The administration accepted all nine recommendations and presented an Action Plan to the Committee in September.
Mayor Fillmore then called for additional measures to ensure the proposed changes produce meaningful improvements to how HRM plans and prioritizes major capital investments and protections for taxpayers.
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Under the motion approved today, the Chief Administrative Officer has been directed to return to the Committee by December 2026 with an updated Action Plan that:
- Establishes implementation milestones and target completion dates for each of the nine actions;
- Identifies the business unit and executive leader accountable for each action; and
- Establishes measurable indicators to assess whether the intended improvements are being achieved.
The motion also requires a progress report at the Committee’s May 2027 meeting, outlining milestones achieved, performance against the measures of success, outstanding actions, and any delays or correct measures required.
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Mayor Fillmore is providing the following statement in response:
“The Auditor General’s Capital Budget Audit identified weaknesses in how City Hall plans major projects, sets priorities, and makes decisions involving taxpayer dollars.
The HRM administration accepted all nine recommendations and developed an Action Plan to meet them. As the Auditor General said today, this motion strengthens that Action Plan by requiring that Council and residents know who is responsible for each improvement, when improvements will be delivered, and what evidence shows they are working.
This gives staff clear expectations and strengthens Council’s oversight. Residents deserve confidence that their public dollars are being invested wisely – and that we follow through when improvements are needed.”
