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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFIN 14-23 Report to Executive Committee Report Number: FIN 14-23 Date: September 5, 2023 From: Stan Karwowski Director, Finance & Treasurer Subject: Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 - Development Charge Revenue Loss as of July 31, 2023 - File: F-1000-001 Recommendation: That Report FIN 14-23 regarding an updated financial assessment related to Bill 23 be received for information. Executive Summary: Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, which received royal assent on November 28, 2022 will have significant implications on the role, function, capacity and fiscal health of municipalities, conservation authorities, and on the planning and development process in Ontario. The purpose of the legislation is to help address the Province’s plan of building 1.5 million homes over the next ten years by increasing the supply of housing. One of tools introduced in the legislation is the reduction of Development Charge (DC) fees over a five year period. This legislation also exempted affordable and non-profit developments from the payment of DC fees. Further to Report FIN 05-23, which provided the estimated financial impact of Bill 23 for the City, this report provides an update on the actual DC revenues that have been lost due to Bill 23 and it’s phase-in requirement for the first seven months of this year. Financial Implications: As of July 31, 2023, the City has lost $1,881,639 of DC revenues due to the mandatory phase-in of DC fees as a result of Bill 23. The City was required to reduce its DC fee set in our by-law passed in July 2022 to 80 percent of the maximum rate. As of July 12, 2023 the City will now be able to charge 85 percent of the maximum DC fee. The City will be allowed to charge the maximum DC fee in July 2026. The graph below illustrates the monthly loss this year due to Bill 23: FIN 14-23 September 5, 2023 Subject: Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 Page 2 – Development Charge Revenue Loss as of July 31, 2023 Chart One DC Revenue Loss by Month Discussion: The majority of the DC revenue loss for the first seven months of 2023 are from the Seaton area, contributing to $1,825,266 of the total loss of $1,881,639, or 97 percent of the total loss. The spike in revenue loss for the month of June may be due to the introduction of the new higher Durham Region DC fee rate effective July 1, 2023 and the development community trying to avoid the increase . In addition, the City’s DC phase-in rate was being increased in early July and the development community may have also wanted to avoid this increase. Chart Two below presents the revenue losses by Development Charge area (City-wide and Seaton) and by dwelling type. $50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Seaton Rest of Pickering FIN 14-23 September 5, 2023 Subject: Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 Page 3 – Development Charge Revenue Loss as of July 31, 2023 Chart Two Revenue Loss by Area and Dwelling Type Table One: DC Loss by Area and Dwelling Type Area/Type Loss ($) Units Single/Semi Detached (Seaton) $1,069,520 290 Other Multiples (Seaton) 755,706 266 Single/Semi Detached (Citywide) 56,413 9 Total $1,881,639 565 The phrase “Other Multiples” refers to housing structures such as triplex, quadplex and row housing. In terms of the DC categories, the Parks & Recreation category has seen the largest financial loss in terms of lost revenue. For the first seven months of 2023, this category has lost $1,337,393 of DC revenues due to Bill 23, which equates to 71 percent of the total loss. Chart Three below illustrates the loss by DC categories: $- $200,000 $400,000 $600,000 $800,000 $1,000,000 $1,200,000 Single/Semi Detached (Seaton) Other Multiples (Seaton)Single/Semi Detached (Citywide) FIN 14-23 September 5, 2023 Subject: Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 Page 4 – Development Charge Revenue Loss as of July 31, 2023 Chart Three Loss by DC Category It is important to note that development in Seaton is exempt from paying the transportation component of the DC fee. This is due to the fact that Seaton Landowner’s Group (SLG) Financial Impact Agreement (FIA) stipulates that the SLG will be constructing the transportation needs in Seaton. 2024 Estimated Budget Provision The 2023 budget estimated that the Bill 23 DC shortfall for the year would be $3.5 million. Based on the 7 months of actual data up to July 31st, the estimated full year DC “reduced fee” loss for 2023 is approximately $3.2 million. This projection excludes the additional fee losses associated with affordable and non-profit housing. As part of the 2023 accounting year end process, accounting staff will transfer funds from the casino reserve to the various DC components to address or “fix” the Bill 23 DC funding hole. At this time, the preliminary estimate for the 2024 DC loss is approximately $2.5 million due to the reduced “DC “haircut” fee. However, it should be noted, that affordable housing developments are 100 percent exempt from the Region and City DC fees. If the City receives any affordable housing application, the financial estimate for the DC fee revenue loss will have to be revised for the remainder of the year. The City is currently in a high growth phase, and will continue to be in this phase over the next 10 to 15 years, and the City is expected to hit a population target of 138,000 by 2032. With $75,118 $118,374 $1,337,393 $246,416 $23,622 $46,380 $23,804 $10,532 Other Services Related to a Highway Fire Protection Services Parks & Recreation Services Library Services Growth-Related Studies Storm Water Management Transportation By-Law Enforcement Services FIN 14-23 September 5, 2023 Subject: Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 Page 5 – Development Charge Revenue Loss as of July 31, 2023 high population growth, comes higher demand for City “Growth Related” infrastructure. The City has a very aggressive and correspondingly expensive capital forecast plan and requires every DC dollar to fund these growth projects. The City continues to hope that the Province wil l make us “whole” and assist the City in funding this critical revenue loss. Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By: Original Signed By: Original Signed By: Jason Bekramchand, CPA Stan Karwowski, CPA, CMA, MBA Senior Financial Analyst – Capital & Director, Finance & Treasurer Debt Management Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council Original Signed By: Marisa Carpino, M.A. Chief Administrative Officer