Local Government Fiscal Imbalance

WHEREAS the tax burden on local government residents is growing due to an increase in regional responsibilities in social housing, child care, arts and culture, social services, transportation and regional policing; AND WHEREAS with the elimination of the Revenue Sharing Act in 1997, local governments no longer receive a share of provincial revenues provincial sales tax, corporate income tax and resource revenue on an unconditional basis and are therefore required to increase user fees, property and business taxes: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM lobby the provincial government to implement a five-year financial plan cycle for all levels of government to harmonize financial planning and that the provincial government takes steps to reinstate a revenue sharing program for local governments.