Friday, March 07, 2008

Funding thaw puts more money to city

By Jennifer Smith - Kelowna Capital News - March 07, 2008

A freeze on the provincial funding to increase bus service in B.C. municipalities has ended. On Thursday, local political leaders learned the City of Kelowna is looking at roughly $363,500 more than expected in this year’s budget and the regional district will save another $275,000 thanks to the increase. “The province was not providing BC Transit with any expansion funds,” explained Keith Grayston, financial planning manager. A system was put in place so municipalities could fully fund their own expansions, but at a 100 per cent cost to local taxpayers, the option was only used on a limited basis. With this announcement, the province will return to it’s usual user agreement, paying 46.7 per cent of the cost to run local buses on every route, saving Okanagan residents nearly $640,000.
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Don Quixote Note: I wonder how much Vernon will save with the return to this funding formula ?

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