Correspondence: Linda Pakos regarding Secondary Suite Permit Fees
Letter from a resident opposing the proposed 100% fee increase for Type 2 secondary suite permits.
Mayor and Council
RE: INCREASING THE RENEWAL FEE FOR TYPE 2 SECONDARY SUITES
I am writing today in regards to the proposed 100% increase in the renewal fee for Type 2 Secondary Suites.
I am, and I am sure the other 244 type 2 suites in our town, are not in support of this proposal. This year we have been handed a 10% tax increase and now a proposed 100% increase in our suite renewal permits. How, in this time of a crisis for affordable housing, does this improve the situation? As a landlord I am only allowed to increase my rent by 3.5%, which does not even come close to helping with these increased costs. I feel that all this will do is force people to close their affordable suites. Is this the desired outcome?
Even your math in the report does not make sense. For our 245 type 2 suites at the present rate you are receiving $24,500 yearly. In your report you state that 80 hours of administrative time is spent on secondary suites. Is the money that you are presently collecting not covering the 80 hours? If your staff is getting paid $24,500 for 80 hours of work, please consider me for a job in the town.
The original bylaw was adopted to be revenue neutral and it appears that the town has actually been overpaid if that was the situation.
As your report indicates, we are the ONLY municipality that charges for secondary suite permits. Maybe you should be suggesting that the type 2 permit fees be rescinded to match the rest of the region instead of this proposed increase.
Linda Pakos