The District of 100 Mile House lent its voice to protest the provincial government downloading costs on B.C. municipalities.
At their regular council meeting on July 9 council received a letter from the City of Kamloops detailing costs "downloaded" from the province to the city they submitted to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to raise awareness. 100 Mile House's council voted to pen a letter of their own detailing their own concerns and struggles which was sent to the UBCM on July 17.
In the letter, Mayor Maureen Pinkney expressed support regarding the concerns raised in the Kamloops report, and added, "As we approach the provincial election, it is imperative that we, as local governments, collectively call on all provincial party leaders to address these concerns."
In addition, Pinkney urged other municipalities to "conduct similar evaluations of the financial impacts of higher-level government policy changes on their communities."
"Our collective strength and unified voice are essential in advocating for the positive changes needed to support the well-being of our communities and the citizens of British Columbia," Pinkney stated in conclusion.
Kamloops' letter, penned by Coun. Katie Neustaeter on June 11 stated that the Kamloops City Council received a report that "highlighted a number of significant costs that have been downloaded to the municipality due to changes in policies or lack of Provincial action."
The 20-page report, which was attached to the letter sent to municipalities, focused on six areas of downloading that are affecting Kamloops - gaps in service delivery, senior governmental services shortfalls, changes to senior government legislative and regulatory framework that impacts municipal budgets, property taxation policy and partnering, areas of emerging service need that have resulted in an expanded mandate or increased cost on local governments and future impacts.
Tammy Boulanger, the chief administrative officer for the District of 100 Mile House, said that 100 Mile House, much like Kamloops, has similar issues regarding downloaded costs.
"Items such as inherited roads and infrastructure, emergency services, carbon tax, employer health tax, housing regulations, and accessibility to name a few," noted Boulanger.
The employer health tax is "an annual tax on an employer's B.C. remuneration paid to employees and former employees in a calendar year beginning on January 1, 2019" according to the B.C. government. Boulanger noted that the employer health tax has cost taxpayers of the District around $34,000 in 2023 alone.
Coun. Donna Barnett, during the Council meeting, praised the report by the City of Kamloops, calling it "very, very well done" - and suggested the district write a letter of their own detailing their challenges, albeit one not as detailed as the Kamloops report. Council ultimately voted to do so, resulting in Pinkney's letter.
"It's time we stood up and told the government of British Columbia to stop downloading," Barnett tated at the Council meeting.
The District of 100 Mile House and the City of Kamloops are not the only jurisdictions that have raised concerns about provincial downloading: a report by the City of Penticton stated that the municipality has also "shouldered increased costs related to public safety due to inadequate provincial funding."
