Municipal funding secured in advanced of provincial budget being released this fall
Municipal Affairs recently communicated that funding allocations to municipalities under the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) and the Federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) will be made available through interim supply, in advance of the provincial budget being finalized.
A total of $597 million, including the full $30 million of MSI operating funding, is being made available through this announcement.
“As rural municipalities across Alberta rely on MSI and GTF funding to provide local services, manage critical infrastructure, and collaborate with neighbouring municipalities, RMA appreciates the Government of Alberta’s willingness to ensure that the majority of 2019 MSI and GTF allocations are made available prior to the release of the 2019 provincial budget later this year. The availability of this funding indicates that the Government of Alberta understands its importance to both municipalities and Albertans who rely on municipal services and infrastructure.
RMA looks forward to working with the Government of Alberta to ensure that the remaining 2019 MSI and GTF funding is made available through the budget process later this year, and that municipalities of all types receive stable and adequate funding for many years to come.”
Al Kemmere, RMA President
Program guidelines will be shared in September, with municipalities receiving formal confirmation of funding amounts in the near future. New in 2019, the Government of Alberta has streamlined the MSI operating program by removing the requirement for spending plans to be required to receive payment of the operating allocations. Instead, municipalities will only need to report on how they used the funding. This information will be included in the program guidelines in early fall.
More information on these grant programs is available here.
For enquiries, please contact:
Wyatt Skovron
Policy Analyst
wyatt@RMAlberta.com
Tasha Blumenthal
Director of External Relations & Advocacy
tasha@RMAlberta.com