| November 18, 2009 VICTORIA – Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam are receiving more than $1.4 million in total from the provincial government through annual grants-in-lieu of property taxes for 2009. “These grants will help Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam provide needed services in these difficult times,” says Coquitlam-Burke Mountain MLA Douglas Horne. “It’s a great program.” “Paying our fair share for the local services we use is the right thing to do,” says Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Iain Black. “This funding also helps keep taxes down for local residents.” The City of Coquitlam will receive $746,599.98, and the City of Port Coquitlam will receive $665,024.37. Government announced a total of $15.9 million to 63 municipalities as grants-in-lieu of property taxes for 2009. The grants are distributed through the Ministry of Citizens’ Services. In the past, it was the practice that one level of government did not tax the property of another level of government. However, beginning in the 1960s, the provincial government began to recognize its responsibility to compensate municipalities for local services that benefited these properties, such as roads, sewers and fire protection. The grants are based on the assessed value of provincially owned office buildings and other properties in each municipality. Funds are distributed electronically, saving time, money and paper. Since 2002, the Government of British Columbia has distributed more than $140 million as grants-in-lieu to B.C. municipalities. Each municipality sends a portion of its grant-in-lieu to its regional district, and those local governments use the money to help pay for local services. Visit Douglas’s website at www.douglashornemla.bc.ca Visit Iain’s website at www.iainblackmla.bc.ca -30- | |
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