The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

14 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday May 23, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Residents urge Region to increase development charges By Melanie Hennessey SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Halton residents came out in full force this week to tell the Region they don't want to foot the bill for discounts local developers could be given on their development charges (DCs). The citizens turned out for the Region's administration and finance committee meeting Wednesday, when the new proposed DCs were debated once again. While the committee ultimately supported giving DC discounts of about 30 per cent to manufacturing, office and warehouse developments, it first heard from the residents who are unhappy with how the discount will affect their taxes. The lost revenues from the potential new discount would add about $10 onto the typical tax bill. Combine that with the mandatory DC exemptions the Region must grant under the Province's Development Charges Act and the discretionary exemptions already made for things like agriculture uses and it equates to around $70 for the average household based on a $300,000 assessment. This is up from the $53.60 the typical homeowner has paid over the past several years to cover DC discounts. "Taxpayers should not be subsidizing private industries. Those who profit should be the ones to pay," said Liz Benneian of Oakvillegreen. "Ask that developers pay the full cost of development. As concerned citizens and taxpayers, we will accept nothing less." Fellow Oakville resident Brian Burton reminded councillors around the table that some of them campaigned on the promise of removing the cost of development from residents' tax bills. "It's time to make good on your campaign promises," he said. "Do the right thing for residents." Kurt Koster of Burlingtongreen asserted that new development should pay for itself. "Please do the right thing for the residents of Halton Region and ensure the residents' share of capital costs for infrastructure is kept to the absolute minimum," he said. Milton resident Olga Shewchun shared similar sentiments, noting that councillors have an opportunity to make "wealthy developers" pay the true cost of development in Halton. But Lyn Townsend, who represents the Halton Industrial Development Group, told the residents that the $10 the new proposed discounts will add onto the average tax bill "isn't going to dismantle a household." Carol McDonald, representing the Milton Chamber of Commerce, agreed that $10 is an "insignificant" amount to pay for the benefits that'll be derived. "I know I want jobs for my kids, jobs for my neighbours and jobs for myself," she said. Chris Kowalchuk of the West River Residents' Association in Oakville disagreed with the two women. "To some people, $10 is a lot. That's three bags of milk," he said. "Why don't we charge them (developers) $10 more if it's such an insignificant amount?" DCs are levied by municipalities to recover growth-related costs associated with things like roads, water and sewer infrastructure needed to service new development. The new DCs are expected to cover 78 per cent of development costs, or $56 million per year, leaving 22 per cent to be paid by the taxpayers, or $15 million. It's proposed that the 30 per cent discount for manufacturing, office and warehouse development be gradually phased out by 2010, which would increase DCs by about $4 per square foot. The development community has already told the Region on several occasions that the high DCs will act as a deterrent for businesses looking to set up shop in Halton. Peter McKenna, a Halton Hills resident who spoke on behalf of the indus See Town page 7