The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is claiming municipal government spending in B.C. is unsustainable and outpacing population growth and inflation two to one.
In its third annual B.C. Municipal Spending Watch report, which was released Thursday morning, the CFIB found municipal operating spending across B.C. grew 58% between 2000 and 2008.
“Many municipal politicians perpetuate the myth that they are hard done by when it comes to revenues; the reality is that they are addicted to overspending,” said Laura Jones, CFIB’s vice-president for Western Canada, in a release.
“It’s grossly unfair to taxpayers who suffer tax and fee increases that outstrip their pay increases.”
The study finds if local governments had kept spending increases in line with population and inflation, each B.C. citizen would have had an additional $228 in their pocket in 2008.
The worst offender is Prince George, where, according to the CFIB, operating spending growth was 3.87 times greater than population growth and inflation.
In Vancouver, municipal spending growth was 1.92 times greater than population growth and inflation,
Among the report’s recommendations is to create a municipal auditor general.