Per-person spending after inflation has increased across 17 Metro Vancouver municipalities between 2009 and 2019, according to a study done by the Fraser Institute. .“Municipal government spending has increased significantly across all the 17 major municipalities in Metro Vancouver, and, naturally, with spending comes taxation,” said Fraser Institute policy analyst and study co-author Garreth Bloor in a press release. .The study said West Vancouver was the highest spender in 2019 at $3,267 per person. This was followed by New Westminster ($2,558) and Vancouver ($2,415). .Surrey spent the least at $1,435. .The study said the largest increase was White Rock at 27.7%, which moved it from 11th highest spender in 2009 to eighth place in 2019. .Maple Ridge recorded the smallest increase at 2.6%, which dropped it one place in the ranking, from 15th in 2009 to 16th in 2019. .The Fraser Institute said there is a connection between high spending and high taxes. For example, West Vancouver is the highest spending municipality and the second highest taxed per person adjusting for inflation in 2019. .“Municipalities that decide through the democratic process to spend more, also have to impose higher taxes on their residents, and the basic data provided in this study helps residents in Metro Vancouver understand their comparative level of municipal spending and taxing,” said Bloor..This study comes after the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) requested the Saskatchewan government strengthen transparency for municipal governments by proactively posting basic financial documents online..READ MORE: CTF demands more transparency from Saskatchewan municipal governments.“Taxpayers always have the right to know how their leaders are spending their communities’ money and that information should be absolutely accessible online,” said CTF Prairie Director Todd MacKay. .“Many municipalities are proactively posting basic financial documents, but others, for a variety of reasons, are struggling.”
