Municipal Fiscal Framework Research Options

New Brunswick municipalities have undergone transformative change due to the white paper on Local Government Reform. While municipal reform has focused on the structural elements of communities, it has not undertaken the financial reform that is long overdue. The provincial government is beginning to discuss reforms, the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick is looking to research options to ensure municipalities are financially viable. A report issued by the province in 2023 outlined some of the current challenges, including that one in three municipalities will face significant financial difficulties in the next three years. This project will provide substantive data analysis, modelling, and projections to guide our organization’s understanding of the essential elements of a new fiscal framework for Local Governments in New Brunswick. It will also form the core of our organization’s goal to advocate for data-informed solutions that will support vibrant and sustainable communities. In the past, our organization has not had the technical capacity to undertake such research and the internship proposed will be essential to determining the future roadmap for municipal financing in New Brunswick.

Faculty Supervisor:

Craig Brett

Student:

Partner:

Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick

Discipline:

Mathematics

Sector:

Public administration

University:

Mount Allison University

Program: