Delegates to the 2021 UBCM Convention will consider a new policy paper aimed at strengthening BC’s finance system for local government. The report identifies three objectives: addressing local government cost drivers in housing, community safety and climate change; addressing the impacts the ‘New Economy’ will have on the local government financial system; and establishing an effective partnership with the Province to improve the local government financial system.
The UBCM Executive, through the Select Committee on Local Government Finance (Select Committee) developed the paper, entitled Ensuring Local Government Financial Resiliency ~ Today’s Recovery and Tomorrow’s New Economy. If endorsed by the UBCM membership, it would provide guidance for discussions with the province on the current state of the system.
The policy paper builds upon a 2013 UBCM paper, Strong Fiscal Futures, by focussing on cost drivers – one of the priority action items identified in the earlier policy paper.
In addition, the Select Committee adopted an approach that focused on establishing a strong partnership with the Province, recognizing that solutions to the identified issues cannot be achieved by an individual level of government and solutions must be anchored in shared provincial/local government goals, objectives and priorities.
The report identifies 20 recommendations which;
- Address three major cost drivers faced by local government - Housing, Community Safety and Climate Change – that represent shared priorities with the Province,
- Identify the impacts of the ‘New Economy’ on the local government financial and property tax system and the need to make it fairer, sustainable and adaptable, and
- Identify the need for an effective partnership with the provincial government in order to work towards solutions.
Delegates at the 2021 UBCM Convention will have an opportunity to learn more about the report during a Tuesday, September 14th workshop, 2:45-4:00PM.
Quotes:
Brian Frenkel, Select Committee member, UBCM President, Councillor, District of Vanderhoof: “This report takes a significant step toward addressing issues raised by the Strong Fiscal Futures paper and places emphasis on the current and future fiscal challenges of local governments. Underlying the 20 recommendations is the understanding that local governments cannot do this alone – we need to work with the Province to find sustainable solutions.”
Al Richmond, Select Committee Co-chair, Director, Cariboo Regional District: “The focus on housing, community safety and climate change cost-drivers address significant cost centres for both local governments and the province. These are issues that impact local governments of all sizes and in very region. I believe that we can accomplish much more by working together than working in isolation when it comes managing the financial impact posed by these challenges.”
Maja Tait, Select Committee member, Mayor of Sooke: “Local governments have long recognized that the property tax system is flawed. The implications of the ‘New Economy’ only adds to the challenges of the property tax system. We want to work with the Province to build a fairer, more sustainable and adaptable local government fiscal system.”