Greater Vancouver Regional District 2204 WEST TENTH AVENUE VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA V6K 2H9 TELEPHONE 731-1155 Please refer to our file number; 7304 March 14 >ยป 1977 Port Coquitlam City Hall 2272 McAllister Avenue PORT COQUITLAM, B.C. V3C 2A8 Mayor and Council Corp. of the City of | 2 1977 Mayor and Council: Transportation Organization in Greater Vancouver Our Committee has received resolutions from a majority of the member councils supporting a Regional/Provincial body to oversee the planning and funding of transportation in the Lower Mainland, We thank you and your Council for your support. However; there is not yet any indication that the Province js taking this approach. The Transportation Committee is convinced that individually and collectively the municipalities will have a greater say in what is done and how dollars are spent on our transportation system, and have more clout in shaping Provin- cial priorities, if this function is part of a Regional/Provincial Commission for both roads and transit and not just a Province-wide transit authority in which we have a minor voice. Perhaps you are aware that under the present system this Region pays more and gets less back from the Province for transportation per capita than any other Region in British Columbia. You have seen how local control over the tax base is being further erroded by the establishment of Provincial authority such as the B.C. Assessment Authority, Municipalities have no control over the operations of the B.C. Assessment Authority or its budget, yet the Provincial Government can pass on a major portion of that budget to the municipalities. We fear that the same approach will be taken in the institution of the proposed urban transit authority (legislation for which is expected to be tabled momentarily in the House). Under the proposed act you could expect to pay one half of the public transit deficit as an additional levy on your property tax base, The levy on our member municipalities could amount to over 25 million dollars next year and grow to nearly 40 million dollars by 1980, (or over five mils).