BC Cities Spending Spree

There is always more than one way to interpret a report...

The vast majority of B.C. municipalities spent too much money between 2000 and 2006 - engaging in out-of-control spending that put upward pressure on property taxes, according to a Canadian Federation of Independent Business report.

The report said overall municipal spending in B.C. increased by 36 per cent during the six-year period - 1.8 times more than the 20-per-cent increase that occurred with population and inflation growth. Only six of 65 B.C. communities in the report kept their spending below the 20-per-cent level between 2000 and 2006 - Port Alberni, Prince Rupert, Castlegar, Qualicum Beach, Terrace and Powell River.

Report says B.C. cities spend too much

I read this as saying that many communities are not getting the required funds from higher levels of government to complete necessary works such as infrastructure upgrades. If this is the case, the spending is hardly out-of-control, it would just be that the realization of aging infrastructure has come home and the municipalities are the one's who take the brunt of the load.