Municipality Climate Adaptation Case Study Report

and transportation expenditures totaled $1.4 million, making up the remaining 14 percent of the
total budget. Other municipal budget and financial information is set out in Table 8.
Table 8
Budget and Financial Information
2011-2012
General Operating Expenditures Budget
$10,035,452
Capital Five-year Plan $3,985,522
Budget for Weather-related Repairs/Maintenance $41,000
General Operating Income $9,819,963
Infrastructure Value (as of March 31, 2011) $13,687,000
Amount Invested in Infrastructure Renewal $3,600,000
Debt (long-term) $3,600,000
Residential Tax Rate (per $100 assessment) $0.91
Commercial Tax Rate (per $100 assessment) $1.60
Source: West Hants Finance Department, January 9, 2012.
3. Climate Change and Adaptation Issues
The following is an overview of the climate change issues that are considered to be important to
the municipality.
Climate Change and Adaptation Issues Important to West Hants
Issue
Coastal flooding
Inland flooding
Details
Flooding of the dykelands along the tidal rivers in the
municipality occurs periodically, most frequently during
fall and winter when drainage ditches or aboiteaux
become blocked with ice. Overtopping or breaching of
dykes is less common, but sea level rise and storm
surges increase the risk and potential extent of
flooding. The risk to existing built-up areas (e.g.,
Highway 1, Falmouth) is of most concern.
Flooding at Avon River Heritage Museum, Avondale
Flooding occurs periodically in low lying areas along
West Branch Avon River from Wile Settlement to Mill
Section (area affected by Nova Scotia Power’s Avon
Hydro System) during high precipitation events (e.g.,
April 2009)
Lebreau Creek Brook frequently overtops its banks in
heavy rains and runoff events (e.g., April 2009;
November 2010), resulting in flooding of homes
adjacent to the brook along Highway 1, near Panuke
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