Off-site levies fund new roads, pipes, and parks — but they must be calculated transparently and fairly.

Proposals:

• Review the off-site levy formula to ensure new developments pay their fair share without driving up home prices.

• Require annual public reporting on levy allocations.

• Consider tiered levies to encourage growth closer to the urban core and existing infrastructure.

Objective:

Shift the financial burden from homebuyers toward developers and promote equitable, growth-aligned infrastructure costs.

New Formula Framework

1. Include Critical Infrastructure Categories:
   Extend levies to cover new LRT stops, libraries, community centers, parks, and stormwater systems (not just fire halls).

2. Revise Levy Calculation:

Levy Rate per hectare = (Projected Infrastructure Cost × Developer Share %) ÷ Benefit Area

Where Developer Share % rises from ~50% to 75–80%—thereby reducing the proportion passed on to new property sales.

3. Tiered Levy Based on Distance to Core:

   • Closer to downtown = lower levy (existing infrastructure).

   • Farther out = higher levy, reflecting greater new infrastructure demand.

4. Adjust for Multi‑Unit & Infill Developments:

   • Introduce higher per-unit levy rates for high‑density infill compared to low-density —reflecting greater city infrastructure benefit.

5. Mandatory Transparency & Annual Reporting:

   • Publicly report levy allocations, development contributions, and infrastructure outcomes, to reinforce fairness and oversight.

Rationale & Benefits

• More Developer Accountability: They directly build for growth; shifting cost burdens encourages strategic design and location choice.

• Easing Pressure on Homebuyers: Lower scheduled levies into sale prices—makes housing more affordable.

• Equitable Growth Funding: Tiered system reflects real cost-benefit relationships between new developments and citywide infrastructure needs.

Platform Talking Point

“Housing affordability shouldn’t be penalized by hidden off‑site city fees. My plan reforms the off‑site levy system—making developers pay 75–80% of infrastructure costs, tailoring rates by location and density, and ensuring transparency through annual reporting. That means less cost pushed onto new homeowners, while still funding schools, parks, LRT, and fire halls.”