1. Municipal Government: Presentation to Schools 2017
The Collective Voice for Nova Scotia Municipalities.

2. What is Municipal Government??

3. Why should you care about municipal government?

4. Unlike other businesses, if municipal government closes down, our world would not be the same…

5. Just Imagine?

6. No one to put out fires...

7. No water...

8. No Garbage Pick-Up...

9. No Sewers...

10. No Streets, Signals, Stop Signs…

11. No Land Use or Transportation Planning

12. No Public Recreation Facilities…

13. No Public Transit

14. What is municipal government?

15. What is Municipal Government?
One of the three levels of government
Federal and provincial are the other levels
It is a geographic area with the power to govern itself within certain limits – including providing certain services and making policies and bylaws which outline what citizens can and cannot do.
Think about rules you must follow at school!
Municipalities are run by councils headed by a mayor or warden
Councils are elected by the people living within each municipality - to vote you must be at least 18 years old

16. Types of Municipalities
Every part of Nova Scotia is represented by a municipality
Municipalities in Nova Scotia can be rural, regional, or towns
There are 50 municipalities in Nova Scotia:
3 regional municipalities
26 Towns
21 Rural Municipalities

17. Size of NS Municipalities
Largest Municipality – Halifax Regional Municipality
Represents 40 per cent of Nova Scotia’s population at over 400,000 people
Smallest Municipality – Town of Annapolis Royal
population of just over 400

18. Municipal History in Nova Scotia
Halifax first municipality created in 1841
24 county municipalities created in 1879
Most towns created between
Regional municipalities created in 1995
Halifax Regional Municipality
Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Regional Municipality of Queens

19. Why are municipalities considered the level of government “closest to the people?”
Local citizens can attend council meetings and participate on committees set up by the municipality
Local citizens and community groups can make presentations to council on issues important to them and can respond directly to council in a public meeting
Local citizens can go to the municipal office to purchase a dog tag, pay your tax bill, apply for a building permit, or register for recreation programs

20. Bylaws Municipalities have the power to create and enforce bylaws
Bylaws are a set of rules created by the municipality that local residents and visitors must follow
This process is similar to rules you follow at school
If a person chooses not to follow the bylaw, he or she can be fined a certain amount of money

21. Examples of Municipal Bylaws

22. Animal Control

23. Unsightly Premises

24. Noise

25. Littering

26. Anti-Idling

27. How Municipal Government Works
Municipal government is a form of democracy
Local citizens elect councils to represent their interests
People can call, , or speak directly to their councillor on things they are concerned about, to ask a question, or to get information
Mayors are elected at large by the people while Wardens are elected by the Council once in office

28. How Municipal Government Works
Councils meet at least monthly to discuss important issues that impact the community
Some of the larger municipalities like Halifax Regional Municipality meet every week
Residents are free to attend council meetings and can present issues to council at a public meeting if granted permission

29. How Municipal Government Works
Municipalities have elected members (mayor and councillors) and appointed members (staff)
The head staff person is called the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
All staff reports to the CAO
The CAO reports to the Mayor/Warden and Council
The Mayor and Council come up with ideas and staff put their ideas into action

30. Why is Municipal Government Important?
Society could not function without municipal government.
Every time you flush the toilet, get a drink of water from the tap, take out the garbage, recycle your bottles and plastics, compost your food, call the police or fire department, take a bus, go for a walk in the park, go skating…
These are all municipal responsibilities!!

31. Mayors and Wardens
What are the similarities and differences between a mayor and warden?
Both are heads of council – similar to a school principal
Mayors elected at large; wardens appointed by council
Mayors are in towns and regional municipalities; wardens are in rural municipalities
Exceptions are District of Lunenburg, County of Colchester and County of Kings – rural municipalities that elect a mayor

32. What does the Mayor/Warden do?
Leaders of council
In charge of council meetings
Attend many events in the municipality such as festivals, awards, opening of new facilities
Serves as spokesperson for council and the municipality
Main contact with media
Serves as team builder, uniting council under one vision

33. What does Council do?
Responds to community and individual citizen concerns
Is aware of important issues in the community and brings them forward to Council
Keeps residents informed about important issues and seeks their feedback
Attends and participates in regular council meetings and other committee meetings
Establishes long-term vision for the municipality
Answers the question: What things can we do now that will improve the community five, ten, and twenty years from now?

34. What does Council do?
Approves operating and capital budgets every year
Establishes property tax rates and area rates
Approves bylaws and policies

35. How Municipal Decisions Impact Youth
If and where to build recreational facilities such as a skateboard park, community centre, arena or swimming pool
Types of recreation programs to offer such as skating and swimming lessons, arts and crafts, etc…
Hosting major sporting events such as Canada Games, hockey or baseball tournaments
Making sure your community is safe through police and fire protection

36. What Services do Municipalities Provide?

37. Police and Fire Protection

38. Parks

39. Recreation

40. Drinking Water and Wastewater

41. Solid Waste Management - Garbage Collection, Composting and Recycling

42. Street and Sidewalk Maintenance

43. Tourism and Special Events

44. Public Transit

45. Animal Control

46. Bylaw Enforcement

47. How do municipalities pay for the services they provide residents?
Municipalities pay for most of their services through property taxes
This is money that home owners and business owners pay to the municipality each year.
The rest comes from provincial and federal governments and user-fees.

48. How does council decide where money should be spent?
They create what is called a budget
The budget looks at how much money the municipality takes in versus how much should be spent based on the required services and services residents want.
Municipalities normally do not spend more money than they take in!!
There are exceptions – creating big projects like drinking water, sewer systems or road repair often require more money than the municipality has. In this case they borrow money to be paid back over time.

49. Your Budget Vs. Council Budget
Council’s budget
Where does the money come from?
Your parents; your babysitting money/part time job; birthday money
Property tax; federal and provincial grants; borrow money
Where must you spend it?
Candy, clothes, food,
Water, solid waste, recreation facilities
Where would you like to spend it?
A new skateboard/phone
New park, new sidewalk
What items do you need to save money for?
A bike/car/ trip
New arena, new water treatment plant

50. What types of jobs are in Municipal Government?
Parks Supervisor
Engineer
Finance Director
Tax Collector
Water Treatment Plant Operator
Recycling Coordinator
Waste Management
Admin Support
By-law Enforcement Officer
IT/GIS Support
Police Officer
Firefighter
Emergency Management Coordinator
Land Use Planner/Planning Technician
Building/Fire Inspector
Chief Administrative Officer
Heavy Equipment Operator
Recreation Programmer

51. How You as Students Can Make A Difference
Talk to your councillor on youth issues such as skateboard parks and recreation programs
When you turn 18, make sure you vote in the municipal election
Ask your Mayor/Warden or member of council to present to your school including organizing student elections and student mock council
Have a municipal career day where municipal staff come to your school to talk about what they do
Attend a council meeting
Ask your mayor or warden to form a youth council to inform municipal council on youth issues

52. QUESTIONS???