New funding system for municipalities coming to P.E.I.

Current grant system to be replaced with tax credits, changes to equalization program

Image | Allen Roach

Caption: Finance Minister Allen Roach announced changes to how the province funds municipalities today, including converting the system of grants to tax credits. (Rick Gibbs/CBC)

P.E.I. is changing the way it funds municipalities with the aim of providing more predictable funding, the provincial government announced Wednesday.
In a written release, Finance Minister Allen Roach said the changes include:
  • Tax credits instead of grants.
  • An updated equalization program.
  • Extending the planning credit to municipalities with an official plan.
  • Municipalities receiving a grant of 10 per cent on all eligible capital expenditures.
  • No municipality receiving less funding than it does now.
The province spends $23.6 million on funding to municipalities, which will increase by $2 million next year and $1 million in each of the next three years after. By 2022-23, the province expects to spend $30 million on municipalities.
The agreement will be reviewed in five years.