Only 60% of Halifax residents satisfied with municipal services: survey
Halifax residents’ satisfaction with municipal services has seen a significant decline, with a recent survey highlighting concerns related to housing, traffic, and transit. The findings of the latest resident survey, conducted throughout the fall of 2024, were presented to the regional council on Tuesday. The results revealed that only 60% of residents expressed satisfaction with municipal services, a noticeable drop from the 82% reported in the previous survey conducted in 2021.
Moreover, the survey indicated a decrease in overall quality of life satisfaction, with only 80% rating their quality of life as very good or good, down from 88% in 2021 and a significant drop from 96% in 2018. Residents also expressed that the quality of life had worsened over the past three years, with 69% stating this sentiment. Michael Pappas, the director of corporate planning and performance, acknowledged the negative trend in the survey results during the meeting.
Factors such as the cost of living, traffic congestion, population growth, housing availability, and affordability were identified as key drivers influencing residents’ perceptions of quality of life. Specific services that received low satisfaction ratings included efforts to address homelessness (19%), traffic management and street space allocation (30%), community planning and land-use planning (37%), food security (37%), and street maintenance (38%). In the realm of transit, only 39% of respondents expressed satisfaction with conventional transit buses, while ferries garnered a higher rating of 78%.
The survey also highlighted that only 43% of respondents felt they received good value for the property taxes they paid, a notable decrease from the 72% reported previously. Despite these challenges, the municipal fire service ranked highest in satisfaction at 94%, closely followed by libraries at 93%, and garbage, recycling, and organics collection at 89%.
The survey results are expected to inform discussions during the upcoming budget season, guiding councillor inquiries into how capital investments and staffing enhancements can improve service levels. The survey, which elicited responses from 2,029 residents out of 25,000 invitations, was deemed accurate within 2.2 percentage points and weighted to reflect Halifax’s general population data.
However, concerns were raised regarding the limited participation of people of color, with approximately 90% of respondents being Caucasian. This disparity prompted councillors Virginia Hinch and John Young to underscore the importance of engaging diverse communities more effectively in future surveys. Strategies to address this gap include targeted outreach efforts in districts with higher diversity and exploring alternative engagement methods beyond traditional surveys.
Ultimately, the survey results will be utilized alongside other feedback and data to shape Halifax’s strategic priorities plan for 2026-2030. These strategic plans serve as a roadmap for municipal investments and initiatives, aiming to address the identified challenges and enhance overall resident satisfaction with municipal services.
