y xt ;
Sani oy “i SaAaLA tet hi
as (CADPR ARO WB ie cy

iadalalialetalatindink saiidide aie RATIO i IC ra ar

OL Kidd eebid Ghent Las A We u

7 April 3, 1992
MEMBER RELEASE

The WECM Execullve met April 1, 1992 in an extraordinary Special
Meeting to consider the impacts of the 1992 Provincial Budget on local
ne governments and jocal taxpayers,

Union a1 The Executive issued the attached Statement to the media, together
Brivist with two “Backgrounders” on the analysis of the unconditional grants
COLUMIIA and supplementary Home Owner grant’, The etatement has been
MUNICIMALI IS communicated to the Premier with an offer to sit down and discuss the
situntion. Our position is also being made available to others with ar,

“Tae tesa neg '
ay a interest ir Property tax equity and Stability,

nulte 1S But of those to be advised and consulted, you the WBCM members,
1981 Shetitridge Way were most important among the Executive's thoughts,
MMlehinunil
Drltieh Cohan The e@ffeets of the provinclal budget measures have affected local
lead governments in various ways - some loca) government wif] experience
aw (oan Weta} little or no impact while others will see severe lnpacts. Our Executive
has continued a “principled” approach - we looked at the effects in
terms Of Jarnestanding UBCM policies regarding consultation, revenue
sharing and equity in school taxation ag approved by the MaMbershiy
through the Financing Local Government Study,

Your Executive beliaves that we can and ynust:

* convinee the provincial government to rethink ite decision to
eliminate the supplementary horne owner Qrant,

* {0 restore 1992 unconditional revenue sharing grants to 1991 levels,
by repealing the March 25 Cabinet Order and provide access to the
revenue sharing stabilization account, You bhowld have aceass to
your share of the $38 million Revenue eharing Stabilization Fund,
This was money that was set aside to stabilize your granis when
there was a prospect of a decrease In unconditional grants,

The Executive also reaffirmed some basic Financing Local Government

policies as approved by prior Conventions:
increasing the unconditional grants to 50% of revenue sharing.

complete reform of school taxation « with ita eventual removal

from the regressive property tax base, |
absolute necessity of consultation on changes that will affect local

governinents,

" copies of the 32 page “Backgrounders” available on requast.

12,4018 Lt