Gravenhurst approves 2025 User Fees and Service Charges By-law
Gravenhurst Council approved the 2025 User Fees and Service Charges By-law, in the September 17, 2024, meeting.
According to the Manager of Revenue and Deputy Treasurer, Rob Rosilius, staff recommended a 3% increase to align with the same increase in this year’s levy.
He added, “The 2025 levy is expected to come in at 5%.”
Rosilius explained that the goal is to ensure User Fees keep up with inflation, which is at approximately 2%. He added, “Given what’s happened in the past, our User Fee rates have not usually kept pace with inflation.”
He advised that changes include a 10% increase at the Arena “as part of a multi-year plan to bring these rates in line with other high demand ice rentals within the District.”
He continued that staff are not recommending an increase in the Building Department. “We have a healthy reserve, and we feel that reserve is sufficient to accommodate any future activities,” he said.
Legislative Services also won’t see an increase due to the growing revenue from short-term rental licencing fees. According to the staff report, “Based on public feedback and the level of volume compliance with the licence requirements, Administration recommends the fee remains unchanged for 2025.”
The report adds that other changes include “administration is recommending flexibility in setting the fees for pilot projects at the Muskoka Wharf and the Rotary Gull Lake Canteen.”
Rosilious advised that there will also be a new Foundation fee proposed “to help developers build houses faster while finalizing plans that they had for construction of the home.”
In addition to this change, because of ongoing outstanding permits, fees will be increased for permit applications “to incentivize them to get those applications closed,” said Rosilious.
Director of Development Services, Melissa Halford, advised that the number of outstanding open permits is being reduced because of the Town’s program to address the matter.
She added, “Now that people realize they’ll not only be dragging out their final product, but they’re going to lose several thousand dollars if they don’t finish the project on time – within a reasonable time frame.”
She explained that after a certain timeframe the deposit gets forfeited to the Town and another fee is required to keep the application open.
Council members concurred that the new User Fee rates and Service Charges are reasonable.
Mayor, Heidi Lorenz, said, “Nobody wants to see fees increase but I think we do need to keep up with the rate of inflation. And I think that the users know we highly subsidize a lot of these recreation programs by keeping the facilities in such great shape. So, I think it’s a reasonable request.”
Upon confirmation that User Groups have been notified about the increases, Councillor, Peter Johnston, said, “People will much more readily and easily accept increases as long as their given advanced notice.”
