2025 R39 – Improvement Districts Policy Revision

Whereas the Province of British Columbia abdicated their obligation to improvement districts through their ill-planned and failing Improvement District Governance: Policy Statement 2006 policy filled with idyllic and unrealistic objectives driven by discriminatory and segregated protocols;

And whereas the acceptance of defeat by improvement districts has failed as pride and independence has won over which has led to most, if not all, improvement districts being in desperation and beyond the point of no return when they seek conversion, making assets and capital improvement conversions cost prohibitive:

Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of British Columbia to modernize their policy regarding the ongoing viability of improvement districts, ramp up their staffing complement to handle the required improvement district oversight, look to more practical and cost-efficient methods for conversions, incentivize and reward financially stable and going concern improvement districts by enabling them to access borrowing from the Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia and restore the ability for financially stable and going concern improvement districts to apply for sustainable sewer and water infrastructure grant opportunities.