Whereas there is a large inequity between British Columbia municipalities in per capita revenue, spending and municipal staffing capacity; And whereas this inequity makes it difficult for low revenue communities to compete in grant funding intakes which assess all applicants as being equal in their capacity to apply: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM petition the Province of British Columbia to establish a new capital infrastructure and operations grant fund which proactively identifies and supports those communities with high residential tax rates and low revenue due to a lack of commercial and industrial property taxation.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing The Province currently provides over 50 million per year to small and medium sized municipalities through the Small Community Grant Program. The calculation of this grant includes variables to increase funding for communities that lack a large commercial or industrial tax base. In addition, in March 2018, the Province partnered with the Federal Government on the new Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, which will inject 3.9 billion into capital projects throughout B.C. over the next 10 years. Included in this funding envelope is the Rural and Northern Communities Fund, which will support the infrastructure priorities of small, rural and remote communities in B.C. Given the current level of operating and capital funding provided to small communities, the Province is currently not considering an additional funding program beyond the current programs.