Whereas the Province of British Columbia has announced an expansion of the Provincial Sales Tax PST program scheduled for implementation on October 1, 2026, which will broaden the application of PST to goods and services commonly procured by local governments; And whereas local governments are significant purchasers of construction, infrastructure, and operational services, and the expanded PST will result in increased project and operating costs; And whereas local governments have limited revenue tools, with property taxation being the primary source of funding, and cannot absorb additional provincially imposed costs without increasing taxes or reducing service levels; And whereas the increased costs associated with PST expansion will directly impact the delivery of critical infrastructure and community services: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province of British Columbia establish a comprehensive rebate program to fully offset the additional PST costs incurred by local governments as a result of the expansion of the Provincial Sales Tax in BC.
