TransLink's Mayors' Council has revealed how much it spent campaigning to convince voters to say yes to a new 0.5% regional sales tax to support transit and transportation improvements.
The amount spent on the campaign totalled $5,814,851. Here's how that breaks down:
Advertising: $2.3 million
Voter canvassing (door-to-door, telephone town halls, mail): $2.1 million
Public events and online engagement: $539,146
Research and planning: $449,911
Operations (staff for call centre and administration): $414,412
In a press release, the Mayors' Council said a total of $6 million had been budgeted for an "education" campaign from TransLink's existing budget.
The Mayor's Council is proposing a $7.5 billion transit and transportation plan that includes bus and road improvements, a new Patullo Bridge, a light rail system for Surrey and Langley and a subway along part of Vancouver's Broadway corridor. The proposed 0.5% regional sales tax would fund local governments' portion of the plan.
No side campaigner Jordan Bateman had previously pegged the amount spent by TransLink at $7 million. The no side spent $39,687 on their campaign.
A coalition of business groups, unions and non-profits, which formed to campaign for yes, has declined to say how much it spent campaigning.
Voting wrapped up on May 29. Ballots are currently being counted by Elections BC and results are expected later this month.
@jenstden
