$32,500 in Gas Tax cash for a special program may make Revelstoke a model for other towns

The City of Revelstoke has received a contribution from the 2016 Gas Tax Strategic Priorities Fund of $32,500 for asset-management planning that will single it out as a potential model for other Canadian municipalities.

A statement from City Hall said the money allows Revelstoke to participate in a cross-Canada Leadership in Asset Management Program coordinated by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). The City was selected by FCM as one of 11 municipalities to participate in the first round of this innovative program.

The project will build on Revelstoke’s existing asset-management work, refresh existing policies, develop an asset-management strategy and governance structure that supports the adoption of asset management as a strategic business approach to managing infrastructure. This should increase the City’s capacity to plan for and prioritize investments in sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

“This funding will assist the City of Revelstoke in continuing the development of a sustainable asset management program,” Mike Thomas, Revelstoke’s director of Engineering and Development Services, said in the statement. “Building staff, Council and community capacity in understanding the importance of strong infrastructure planning will improve Revelstoke’s ability to plan, fund and manage infrastructure decisions.”

The project will involve a multi-department team of staff members with Council and community engagement and is expected to be complete in 2017. Funding for this project has also been provided by FCM through the Green Municipal Fund.

Quick Facts

  • The Revelstoke Strengthening Organizational Adoption of Asset Management project is receiving $32,500 from the federal Gas Tax Fund.
  • The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is contributing $32,500 to the project.
  • The City of Revelstoke is also contributing $11,700 to the project.
  • The total estimated cost of this project is $76,700.
  • This project is one of the 57 projects that are being funded through the Strategic Priorities Fund under the Federal Gas Tax Fund for 2016.
  • The Union of BC Municipalities administers the Federal Gas Tax Fund in British Columbia in partnership with the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.
  • Each year, the Government of Canada provides over $253 million in indexed funding for local government infrastructure projects across British Columbia through the federal Gas Tax Fund. The funding can be spent on any eligible project the community prioritizes across a broad range of eligible project categories, or it can be pooled with other communities for regional projects, banked for later priorities or used to pay for financed projects.