An automatic increase to development charges in Saugeen Shores is getting a mixed reaction from council.
The by-law allows the charges to go up each year according to the Construction Price Index— the government-recognized inflation rate for construction materials.
The rate for 2008 was over 11.5 percent, meaning the development charge per single detached and semi detached dwelling is going from four thousand dollars to over 44 hundred dollars.
Vice Deputy Mayor Doug Gowanlock suggests the rates could be frozen.
Councillor Luke Charbonneau would like to see the increase reversed and rates frozen in order to encourage developers to keep building new homes in Saugeen Shores.
Charbonneau says its possible the development charge by-law could be looked at over the next few weeks and amended so the increase could be reversed.
He says council needs to be flexible with the current economic circumstances in order to make sure building continues to happen.
Councillor Victoria Serda does not want to see changes to development charges.
She says development charges relieve existing municipal taxpayers from having to cover all of the costs of new development.
Serda says development charges ensure most of the costs are actually being paid by the new development itself.
Mayor Mike Smith agrees and supports the increase.
