The Halton District School Board has initiated the process to prepare a new Education Development Charges By-law. Education Development Charges (EDC's) are used to fund the acquisition of school sites and related costs to accomodate growth-related pupil needs. These are levies that are applied to all new residential and non-residential development, with certain exceptions. The existing By-law recovers 85% of education land cost (i.e. the purchase price of school sites and associated costs) from residential development and 15% from non-residential development.

The Board's current EDC By-law expires on June 8, 2014, however due to a current shortfall in the EDC reserve account, as a result of significant enrolment growth pressure and increased land costs, a Background Study and new EDC By-law have been initiated. An EDC Background Study examines and analyzes existing and future enrolment growth, development growth, existing school facilities, current and future financial conditions, current and future land costs and servicing of that land, and ratepayer input. Through this analysis, a recommendation of the correct rates for Education Development Charges is provided to the Board for review. If approved, this recommendation is then implemented through the adoption of an EDC By-law.

Timeline:

February 6, 2013 Board Report 13021 regarding initiating the process to undertake a new EDC By-law, To view full report Click Here

April 3, 2013 Board Report 13056 regarding Education development Charge Policies on Application of Operating Surpluses and Alternative Accomodation Arrangements, recommendations approved April 17, 2013. To view full report Click Here

April 17, 2013 Board Report 13058 regarding the Update Status of the EDC Review Click Here. Watson and Associate Powerpoint presentation regarding the EDC Update Status, to view full report Click here

April 30, 2013 EDC Background Study (Click Here) and EDC Policy Review (Click Here) released by HDSB

May 22, 2013 HDSB Public Meetings on the Education Development Charges Policy Review and EDC Development Charges By-law, to view presentations Click Here

June 19, 2013 HDSB Third Public Meeting regarding the enactment of a new Education Development Charges By-law (Click Here)