WHEREAS the Community Charter gives municipalities the ability to raise revenues through non-traditional means; AND WHEREAS the property tax base is unable to support the burgeoning cost of transportation infrastructure: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities urge the provincial government to provide a source of revenue to assist municipalities in funding transportation infrastructure costs.
Ministry of Community Services Government is aware of the need for local government funding for all purposes, not just transportation and it continues to address the issue. Over the last several years traffic fine revenues have been increasingly directed for community policy and crime prevention and other initiatives to help make communities safer. In the last year the Province has been working carefully with the federal government to direct a portion of federal gas tax revenues and other federal funds toward sustainable transportation and other projects in communities. Other options for the future are being considered by the Premiers Task Force on Community Opportunities.