The trend over the past 27 years is similar in our region as compared to all municipalities in BCÂ Â Â (Figure 1). The average of total spending for Basin Boundary local governments from 1985 to 2011 was 11.2% while the average for all BC municipalities was 11.5%. Municipal spending on parks, recreation and culture has increased over time, peaking in 2008 (16.5% for all BC and 15.3% for Basin Boundary municipalities). This may be related to a greater interest in spending on cultural amenities or possibly increasing costs to maintain assets and activities. Increased spending at the municipal level may also be related to a decrease in federal and/or provincial funding.
Several communities in our region show above average spending on parks, recreation and culture, including the communities of Elkford, Kimberley, Midway, Nakusp, Sparwood, Trail, and Valemount, but this trend is not consistent over time. Some communities with consistently higher spending may have more parks, recreational or cultural facilities, which require more funding to maintain. In some years, communities may spend more because of capital projects or cultural developments, while in other years there may be different needs and priorities. It is important to note that each community is unique and different variables influence municipal spending on parks, recreation, and culture.
