WHEREAS local governments continue to have access to a single consistent source of revenue, that being a property tax, and it is impossible for local governments to achieve long-term sustainability while covering the costs of replacing aging infrastructure from that single tax base; AND WHEREAS local governments would benefit from having access to a portion of the 14.2 cents per litre gas tax the Province currently collects: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities lobby the provincial government to grant to local governments a portion of the provincial gas tax, that amount to be used for transportation initiatives and road infrastructure and rehabilitation.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE Gas and diesel fuel tax revenues provide significant funding for the provincial transportation system that benefits all communities. Typically, the Province of British Columbia spends more on the transportation system than it collects in gasoline tax. In the 200708 fiscal year, the provincial government will collect an estimated 919 million in total fuel tax revenue and reinvest 1.4 billion in highways and transportation. As such, unlike the situation with the federal government, there is little room to transfer provincial fuel tax revenues to local government.