The article outlines run away spending since Houston has been leading the government, and forecasts yearly spending increases of over 7% for the next few years. And yet the government somehow manages to balance the budget each year at least till end FY 2324. Not a bad thing – but.
Now that inflation is causing financial hardship for more and more Nova Scotians, more of the tax revenues enabling these surpluses need to be directed to tax relief. Indexing the BP exemption to inflation is a start, but the exemption still starts at such an uncompetitive low level because it has been frozen at such a low amount for so long. Do a story on this and put on paper so people can read a number on how much more we get taken from us due to N.S. taxes. People need to see these comparisons. What should have happened is the exemption should have been raised to around $11,000, then indexed from there. Sadly, way too many Nova Scotians have no clue how much more tax they pay compared to other provinces, nor do they have a desire to find out for themselves. They need to be educated about this one aspect of taxes. My hope is that once the word gets out, they will demand more of our government with regards to lowering taxes. However, unless the government acts, once the word gets out, people may leave for greener pastures.
We are just not competitive tax wise by any measure. How do we expect to attract high quality talent to N.S. when the government confiscates so much of our incomes due to high taxes. Movers and shakers of business, industry, will not come to N.S. And why do we have so many tax brackets in N.S. that tops out at 21% at a low level. Again, people just do not have any idea how much more we pay in taxes. It’s time to put numbers to these differences. Then the people will wake up.
How does one reconcile a budget revenue line item that reads “Prior Years’ Adjustments – Provincial Taxes” create a budgetary surplus ? see table 2.2 on budget page 6/73. This appears more as an example of poor performance.
Well said. It is through Newstart N.S. articles such as this, water-cooler discussions at work, and educated parent comments at the hockey rink and gym that Tim Houston’s government will be severely criticized for maintaining morale sapping, job killing high taxes in N.S. – the highest in North America. If high taxes were the solution N.S. would be in first place. We are in last place and Houston is stubbornly, I repeat stubbornly keeping N.S. in last place. Such an opportunity for prosperity wasted by Houston. Sad, just sad.
The article outlines run away spending since Houston has been leading the government, and forecasts yearly spending increases of over 7% for the next few years. And yet the government somehow manages to balance the budget each year at least till end FY 2324. Not a bad thing – but.
Now that inflation is causing financial hardship for more and more Nova Scotians, more of the tax revenues enabling these surpluses need to be directed to tax relief. Indexing the BP exemption to inflation is a start, but the exemption still starts at such an uncompetitive low level because it has been frozen at such a low amount for so long. Do a story on this and put on paper so people can read a number on how much more we get taken from us due to N.S. taxes. People need to see these comparisons. What should have happened is the exemption should have been raised to around $11,000, then indexed from there. Sadly, way too many Nova Scotians have no clue how much more tax they pay compared to other provinces, nor do they have a desire to find out for themselves. They need to be educated about this one aspect of taxes. My hope is that once the word gets out, they will demand more of our government with regards to lowering taxes. However, unless the government acts, once the word gets out, people may leave for greener pastures.
We are just not competitive tax wise by any measure. How do we expect to attract high quality talent to N.S. when the government confiscates so much of our incomes due to high taxes. Movers and shakers of business, industry, will not come to N.S. And why do we have so many tax brackets in N.S. that tops out at 21% at a low level. Again, people just do not have any idea how much more we pay in taxes. It’s time to put numbers to these differences. Then the people will wake up.
Greg Lourme | March 5, 2024 |
Further evidence that the Houston budget is a big failure.
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/blogs/free-spending-nova-scotia-budget-gets-failing-grade
Greg | March 4, 2024 |
Thanks Greg.
>
> Which aspect(s) of the budget lead you to that conclusion?
>
> Bill
Bill | March 4, 2024 |
How does one reconcile a budget revenue line item that reads “Prior Years’ Adjustments – Provincial Taxes” create a budgetary surplus ? see table 2.2 on budget page 6/73. This appears more as an example of poor performance.
Dennis Keay | March 4, 2024 |
Well said. It is through Newstart N.S. articles such as this, water-cooler discussions at work, and educated parent comments at the hockey rink and gym that Tim Houston’s government will be severely criticized for maintaining morale sapping, job killing high taxes in N.S. – the highest in North America. If high taxes were the solution N.S. would be in first place. We are in last place and Houston is stubbornly, I repeat stubbornly keeping N.S. in last place. Such an opportunity for prosperity wasted by Houston. Sad, just sad.
Greg | March 1, 2024 |