WHEREAS local governments are not able to generate enough revenue to fund the growing needs of their communities; AND WHEREAS many citizens and local tax payers cannot afford the higher property taxes and fees that are needed to fund infrastructure repairs and increased services; AND WHEREAS the government of Canada has chosen to share a portion of their gas tax revenue with local government; AND WHEREAS the Province collects a 14.5 cents per litre gasoline tax in the areas outside of the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Service Region and the Victoria Regional Transit Service Area: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM request the Province to share a portion of the provincial gas tax with local government in a grant program similar to the Federal Gas Tax program without impacting current funding programs.
Ministry of Finance Gas and diesel fuel tax revenues provide significant funding for the provincial transportation system that benefits all communities. Typically, the Province spends more on the transportation system than it collects in gasoline tax. In the 201011 fiscal year, the Province will collect an estimated 890 million in total fuel tax revenue and reinvest 1.5 billion in highways and transportation. As such, the province has less flexibility than the federal government to transfer gas tax revenues to local communities.