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VICTORIA – The Province is releasing $186 million in grants for local governments in 2008/09 through supplementary estimates to support safe communities and to create jobs through local economic development, subject to legislative approval, announced Kevin Krueger, Minister of Community Development, and John van Dongen, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
“Local governments told us they need help now, help to deal with crime and help to participate in infrastructure spending to create jobs for workers and their families,” said Krueger. “We listened and we are taking action to assist local government to provide stability during these difficult times. These funds will improve local safety projects, stimulate local economies, encourage growth, create local jobs and help offset the effects of the economic downturn.”
By working with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM), the Province and local governments are restructuring arrangements to change the nature and timing of the release of traffic fine revenue grants and small community and regional district grants. While the overall amount of funds transferred over the next two years will be protected, the benefit of this program is that local governments will receive a high proportion of the funds sooner, when the money is most needed. This also allows the Province to provide a higher discretionary grant this year in recognition that the Province’s ability to fund discretionary grants will be more challenging in the following two years.
Of the $186 million, $63 million comes from the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing Program and is devoted to community safety throughout B.C. This is in addition to the more than $255.6 million that has been delivered to local governments in the past four years, $220 million of which is new cumulative funding as a result of when the Province expanded this program in 2004 to share 100 per cent of net traffic fine revenue funds with communities. The program assists local governments that directly pay police enforcement costs. The funds will allow them to hire more officers and invest in local projects ranging from youth outreach to drug awareness and traffic safety.
“The
return of 100 per cent of traffic fine revenue since 2004 amounts to $255.6
million and has allowed B.C. communities to put an additional 560 police
officers on the ground,” said van Dongen.
“Vancouver alone received nearly $65 million between 2004 and 2008. Municipalities
have also used traffic fine revenue to help fund an integrated emergency
dispatch centre for a number of police and fire departments on southern
Vancouver Island, increase grants to programs such as Crime Stoppers, and add
resources to numerous crime prevention and community policing projects right
across the province.”
The Small Community and Regional District Grant Programs provide support to local governments as part of the Province’s continuing commitment to help provide services in areas with smaller tax bases. In 2008, small communities and regional districts received $48 million in grants. In 2009, grants are increasing to $55 million, fulfilling the Province’s commitment to double these grants over four years.
“Clearly, this initiative is an example of how, by working in partnership, we can meet our current challenges and create stability in communities across British Columbia,” said Krueger.
The supplementary estimates can be part of the budgetary process, where funds in a current fiscal year can be approved to be spent in addition to approved ministry budgets. For more information on the budget, visit: www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2009/.
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Note: The online
version of this news release was updated on Feb. 19, 2009 to correct an error.
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Ministry of Community Development 250 387-4089 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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