BRUCEDALE – Building permit fees in Guelph/Eramosa may be increasing by 15.6 per cent next year.
The changes would be the first increases to the township’s building fee structure since 2018.
Chief building official Don Sharina presented the proposed increases during a public meeting on Dec. 11.
Sharina said the increases are in line with cost of living increases since 2018.
The proposed increases would add about $50,000 to the township’s projected 2024 revenue.
These increases are “only to recover the increase in operating costs,” Sharina said.
“This would stabilize direct costs for 2024.”
Without the increases, the building department would not be able to cover direct costs, further depleting reserves, the report states.
The department’s reserves were depleted by more than $100,000 this year, down to about $250,000.
Without the increase in fees, the department predicts the reserves will be depleted by another $100,000.
Guelph/Eramosa officials say increasing building permit fees by 15.6% will reduce the amount of funding taken from building department reserves to cover costs. Images from Guelph/Eramosa’s Dec. 11 council meeting
With the proposed increases Guelph/Eramosa building fees would be higher on average than in Erin, Centre Wellington and Guelph, but generally lower than fees in Puslinch.
The report proposes provisions be added to the fee schedule to index fees annually based on the township’s cost of living adjustment, as 80% of the building department’s costs are staff related.
As of 2024, Guelph/Eramosa staff salaries will have increased by 15.6% since 2019.
Other increases include:
– bumping the new septic permit fee up from $598 to $800;
– an additional 20% of permit fees added for conditional building permits;
– cost-recovery for peer review of site servicing (engineering) for developments of 10 units or less with no site plan review process.
No comments from the public or councillors were made during the meeting, but comments will continue to be accepted until Dec. 15.
To provide feedback on the proposed increases, email clerks@get.on.ca.
