The government of B.C. is delivering $96.2 million to communities throughout the province through the latest instalment of the Strategic Community Investment Fund, announced Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.

The Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF) includes the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program and Small Community and Regional District Grants.

Eligible municipalities will share $51.1 million in Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program funding to help offset the cost of policing and community safety.

Most local governments with populations under 20,000 will receive a total of $45.1 million in Small Community and Regional District Grants to address infrastructure and service delivery priorities.

Quotes:

Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development -

"SCIF is one of the ways we have been responding to the challenges of an economic downturn. The primary benefit of SCIF is that communities receive committed funding sooner, which gives them added financial certainty and the ability to plan more effectively."

"This is money in the hands of local governments: to provide local services, to provide important local programs and to invest in community safety."

Quick Facts:

• The Strategic Community Investment Fund restructures the payment of Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing grants and Small Community Regional District Grants. Established in 2009, a second round of the program was announced in the 2011-12 fiscal year. This third round extends the program to the 2014-15 fiscal year.
• Small Community and Regional District Grants assist local governments in providing basic services. Grant amounts are based on a formula that factors in base amount, population and assessment values.
• The Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program assists eligible municipalities that pay police enforcement costs directly.
• The grants come from ticket fines and court-imposed fines on violation tickets. The amount of money a municipality receives is based on its contribution to total municipal policing costs.
• The government of B.C. delivers 100 per cent of net traffic fine revenues to communities - amounting to an additional $454.5 million since 2004, including this instalment.

Learn More:

For a complete list of SCIF recipients, go to:

http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/downloads/SCIF_Backgrounder_June_2012.pdf

Contact:

Gillian Rhodes
Communications Manager
Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 356-6334