Urban Affairs/Local Government

AIMS Interim Municipal Report Card and its continued work on municipal affairs prompted this editorial about value for money in the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal.

The reaction from the Mahone Bay area of Nova Scotia on release of AIMS' interim Municipal Report Card for Nova Scotia.

Property values are an archaic way to determine a tax bill, AIMS Executive Vice President Charles Cirtwill tells the Times & Transcript. He says municipal taxes should not be tied to the value of your home at all, but rather to the services you consume.

This editorial in the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal uses the AIMS Interim Municipal Report Card, to show the need for fair value for the money taxpayers spend on municipal services. It says such information is vital if local councillors are to make informed and fair decisions.

This article in the Cape Breton Post takes a look at the AIMS Interim Municipal Report Card. It points out that the combined transfer payments from all other levels of government are highest in the three amalgamated municipalities.

Based on remarks to Citizens for Halifax, this Commentary provides direction for all municipal governments.

AIMS Director of Research Ian Munro speaks with the Chronicle Herald about the release of the Interim Municipal Report Card for Nova Scotia. Munro emphasizes that the goal of the Interim Report Card is to highlight the knowledge gaps.

Does Anyone Know?

In the next step in AIMS' Municipal Report Card project, "Measuring Up . . . or Not" is an interim report for Nova Scotia municipalities. It provides information on how municipalities spend our tax dollars, and invites Nova Scotians to comment. The final report with grades and ranks will be published later this year.

In this edition of The Beacon, AIMS releases the first step in its new Municipal Report Card project.