Tuesday, February 20, 2007

BC BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

http://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2007/default.htm
http://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2007/pdf/2007_News_Release.pdf
http://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2007/pdf/2007_Backgrounder.pdf

  • An additional $27 million over three years to increase the number of year-round shelter beds by almost 30 per cent and provide related support services;
  • $38 million in onetime funding to projects that provide housing and support for people who are homeless, or at risk of being homeless
  • Raising the shelter rate by $50 a month for people on income assistance. B.C. now has the highest shelter assistance rates in Canada for employable singles, couples and single-parent families;
  • An additional $6 million over three years to strengthen support for transition houses for women and children fl eeing domestic violence;
  • $45 million over four years to convert up to 750 social housing units to supportive housing, to make them more accessible for seniors and others with special housing needs;•
  • Expanding the Rental Assistance Program by raising the income threshold to $28,000 a year. his means 5,800 additional working families — more than 20,000 in total — will be eligible to receive up to $563 a month to help with their housing costs;•
  • he First Time Home Buyers’ Program is enhanced to exempt first-time buyers across B.C. from paying the Property Transfer Tax on homes valued up to $375,000. his will save irst-time buyers up to $5,500;•
  • Extending eligibility for the Home Owner Grant to lower-income seniors, regardless of their home’s assessed value; and •
  • Introducing legislation to allow people to start deferring their property taxes at age 55 rather than age 60.
  • To help every taxpayer with their housing expenses, Balanced Budget 2007 cuts personal income taxes by 10 per cent for British Columbians earning up to $100,000.

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