The District of Squamish will be getting the equivalent of a $400,000 tax refund from Ottawa this year thanks to a commitment by Prime Minister Paul Martin.
The federal government throne speech revealed that GST expenses can be taken out of the 2004 municipal budgets across the country.
Sutherland said it amounts to about $400,000 for Squamish.
"It is a very positive thing," Sutherland said. "The money is coming directly from the feds to allow us to do some things that have to be done."
The $400,000 figure is based on the fact that the district paid about $320,000 in GST in 2003. Most of the GST payments are associated with major projects and capital expenditures.
"There are a few more major projects this year with GST attached," said the mayor.
