By Cecilia Nasmith
Just months after Northumberland County implemented its first-ever development charge, Northumberland County council's Finance and Audit Committee heard at its February meeting, it will need to be amended.
Director of Finance Glenn Dees explained that, subsequent to the implementation, Queen's Park has enacted the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020.
This legislation eliminates a 10% statutory discount on some of what Dees termed soft services provided by the county.
He listed a few examples, such as administration, homes for the aged, paramedic services, community housing and waste diversion.
“This will allow the County to recover 100% of eligible service costs, reducing the need for financing previously identified growth-related items in the current D.C. Background Study from non D.C. Sources,” Dees' report explained.
The estimated financial impact will be a $460,000 increase in development-charge revenue over 10 years.
As for costs to developers, Dees added, this will be a 3% increase on a single or semi-detached residential dwelling (or about $90).
To comply with new provincial legislation, a motion will go to county council from the committee recommending that staff be authorize to commence the processes required to amend the current Development Charges Background Study and associated bylaw accordingly.
