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District of 100 Mile House appreciates funding

MP McLeod announces Gas Tax Fund changes, figures for her riding

Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod met with 100 Mile Mayor Mitch Campsall on May 22 to give him the details of the new Gas Tax Fund (GTF) that will help support infrastructure priorities in the District of 100 Mile House.

“The [federal/provincial/Unions of British Columbia Communities] agreement for the renewed federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) will provide predictable, stable funding for public infrastructure throughout nine municipalities and districts of Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo,” says McLeod.

Noting that the federal GTF has been legislated, Campsall says it's great because now the funding is enshrined in legislation and municipalities will know it's coming.

"Now, you can plan for it for 10 years down the road. Prior to this, you didn't know if you were definitely going to get it or when you were going to get it."

For 100 Mile House, it means $125,771.59 for 1014/15; $125,771.59 projected for 2015/16; $132,060.22 projected for 2015/17; $132,060.22 projected for 2017/18; and $138,459 projected for 2018/19.

The funding, which is primarily based on population, is provided up front, twice-a-year, to provinces and territories, which, in turn, allocate this funding to their municipalities to support local infrastructure priorities, McLeod explains.

However, Campsall says he believe the rate is low – especially for municipalities that have smaller populations. He adds the Northwest Territories has a base rate plus population and he would like to see something like that for rural British Columbia, too.

"Then they can do something every year with it."

McLeod notes municipalities can pool, bank and borrow against this funding, which provides significant financial flexibility.

While he appreciates the funding coming in, Campsall says there really isn't much the District can do with $125,000, so it has to allow the funds to accumulate before they can be used for an infrastructure project.

"It took us four to five years to save enough to pay for paving the downtown this year."

On the other hand, the mayor says he's pleased the GTF is now indexed to the cost of living and he notes there is more flexibility in terms of what the money can be used for to complete projects.

Campsall says District administration is very savvy in terms of looking for funding for various capital projects.

For instance, the District is watching for the application intake dates for the General Strategic Priority Fund (GSPF), which is administered by the Union of B.C. Municipalities.

This fund provides 100 per cent funding support for infrastructure projects and council will be applying for its impending safe water project through the GSPF.

There is other funding councillors are looking at to help pay for other important projects on its capital program list.

Campsall says the District would like to upgrade the water flow in the Alpine and Scott roads area to eight-inch lines to provide better water protection in that area of the 99 Mile Hill.

That money would be a three-way share of project costs amongst the provincial, federal and the local governments – each paying for one-third of the project through the Canada/B.C. Infrastructure Fund.

Campsall says the goal is to get projects done with the "least amount of pain for the taxpayers."