Federal money part of a one-time doubling of funding paid to Canadian municipalities

By Collin Gallant
Alta Newspaper Group – Medicine Hat

Local municipalities are poised to get additional funds from a gas tax “top-up” that was written into the last federal budget.

Ottawa announced a one-time doubling of funds paid out to municipalities from the per-litre charge on vehicle fuel in March, but it is up to the provinces to administer the funds and determine payouts for the infrastructure funding program.

That schedule of payments is now public several months after the United Conservatives won the spring election. Across Alberta the increase totals $229.5 million that can be spent on capital construction projects in 18 categories.

In the south region, Brooks ($1.63 million), Taber ($952,400), Bow Island ($230,800), Vauxhall ($138,000), and Oyen ($115,500), will see near 100 per cent increases.

The jump in federal gas tax goes to capital projects in all Alberta municipalities, with Cypress County’s share rising to $866,000 after an additional $419,000 is added. The Town of Redcliff’s grant rises from $325,900 to a total of $632,800.

The program is available to all municipalities above a village, with a minimum of $50,000 paid out. Among the smallest municipalities, Foremost, Empress and Acadia Valley will each receive $100,000 this year.

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