Several councillors unhappy with rural road funding in CBRM budget

Councillors have unanimously approved Cape Breton Regional Municipality's budget for the coming year, but several are still unhappy with what they say is insufficient funding for rural roads.

Mayor Cecil Clarke says it's a good-news budget. Spending is up, but the tax rate is not.

Coun. Steve Parsons voted for the budget but was joined by several colleagues in calling on Nova Scotia's Public Works Department for enough money to finish what are known as J-class roads in CBRM.

"It's not fair that you still live on a gravel road for 27 years after you were promised way back to get this done," he said in an interview after council approved the budget Thursday.

When CBRM amalgamated in 1995, the province promised to pave J-class roads, which they own and maintain, as long as the municipality split the paving bill.

Parsons said the government has not been putting its money where its mouth is.

"They've been giving us $150,000, in my experience since I've been here, each consecutive year. You can't do much … paving with $300,000. That's why there's only one road getting done each year and we still have 14 not done."

Parsons said the province could finish the job in CBRM if it allocated $2.5 million to the program.

Last year, council passed a resolution committing to its share to finish the work once and for all.

"When you read the paper and there's $200 million allocated for the Donald Trump potential tariffs effects and there's $500 million allocated from the province for the next five years to do road upgrades, to gravel roads, recapping roads, arterial roads, and there's nothing for J-class roads, then I've got to say that I'm really getting disappointed."

In 2023, the province offered CBRM a new service exchange agreement that included an operating grant and removed taxes for corrections and housing from the municipal tax bill.

The deal was contentious, with CBRM councillors arguing the operating grant needed to increase and there needed to be more money for roads.

Clarke said the road portion of the agreement is expected to be revisited after the legislature finishes sitting this spring.

"The roads program was left off with the last agreement with the municipality," he said. "We're putting that road discussion back on."

Parsons said that's good to know.

"That was music to my ears, to be honest with you, but like the banker says, you don't count the money until it's in your account."

CBRM's new budget includes a $93-million capital budget with more spending this year on other municipal roads and sidewalks, sewer and water infrastructure, and police cameras.

That's an increase of 18 per cent over last year's capital budget.

The $188-million operating budget is up 5.5 per cent over last year, with new money for staff in various departments, including two new inspectors to look after dangerous and unsightly properties.