VANCOUVER - A new report comparing per capita spending among 17 Metro Vancouver municipalities says there are significant discrepancies across the region, with West Vancouver spending more than twice as much as Surrey.
The study by the right-leaning policy think tank Fraser Institute examined fiscal data from 2002 and 2012 and was released as a lead-up to civic elections on Nov. 15.
Study co-author Charles Lammam found West Vancouver was the highest spender in 2012, spending $2,118 per capita while Surrey spent a low of $951 per capita.
The report says Vancouver has the third-highest spending per person at $1,689.
Lamman says the differences don't seem to be driven by population, since Vancouver has the largest population and is the third highest spender, while Surrey has the second largest population and is the lowest spender.
He says the regional spending average is $1,384 per person, and his study suggests all 17 municipalities increased spending beyond what was needed to accommodate for inflation and population growth over the 10-year period.
