County collects $14.6M in development charges in 2025

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

County of Brant collected more than $14.5 million in development charges in 2025, with the funds earmarked to help pay for infrastructure and services needed to accommodate growth.

Council received the annual Treasurer’s Statement on Development Charges as a consent item during its June 23 meeting. The report, prepared by Heather Bailey, manager of budgets and long-term financial planning, is required annually under the Development Charges Act.

Development charges are fees collected from new development to help municipalities fund growth-related capital needs, including roads, water and wastewater infrastructure, parks, recreation facilities, fire protection and libraries.

The County collected $14.59 million in development charges during 2025 and transferred $13.16 million from development charge reserve funds to capital projects. After adjustments, transfers and interest, the County’s total development charge reserve balance stood at $17.17 million at the end of the year.

However, the statement also shows the County had $41.6 million in development charge commitments for approved projects at year-end, leaving an overall available balance of negative $24.43 million once those commitments were considered.

The largest amount collected in 2025 was for roads and public works, which brought in $4.73 million. Sanitary sewer charges accounted for another $2.92 million, while water charges totalled $2.93 million. Parks and recreation collected $2.27 million in development charges during the year.

The County’s roads and public works reserve ended 2025 with a balance of $3.73 million, but had $12.86 million committed to approved projects. Major road-related projects supported through development charges include the Highway 403 interchange and Rest Acres Road improvements, Rest Acres Road widening, King Edward Street improvements, Grand River Street North reconstruction and the Iarocci Boulevard connection.

The Grand River Street North reconstruction project had used more than $7.97 million in development charge funding by the end of 2025, with $383,054 in unspent development charge commitments remaining. The project’s approved funding sources total $22.85 million, including development charges, general fund contributions, debt, grants and other contributions.

Water services ended the year with a negative reserve balance of $4.84 million and $10.48 million in capital commitments. The statement identifies several major water-related projects, including the St. George additional water source, Grand River Street North watermain work, the Paris elevated tank, Cainsville watermain upgrades and a watermain crossing near Highway 403 and Pottruff Road.

Sanitary sewer reserves closed the year with a balance of $5.54 million, while approved project commitments totalled $5.7 million. 

Projects listed in the statement include the St. George wastewater pollution control plant expansion, Grand River Street North sanitary sewer upgrades, the Paris wastewater treatment plant expansion, Cainsville pumping station work and sewer upgrades in several communities.

Parks and recreation had the largest positive available balance among the major service categories, with $10.86 million available after accounting for $1.55 million in capital commitments. Development charge funding is allocated to projects including the Paris skatepark’s second phase, the Grandville Phase 3/Arlington Park and splash pad project, trails in Burford and Paris, the Brant Sports Complex addition and municipal gymnasium, and future park amenities.

The statement also identifies significant commitments for a new Paris library and Bawcutt Centre. While the library reserve ended 2025 with a balance of $2.64 million, the County had $2.25 million in capital commitments and $13.26 million in approved development charge debt funding for the project.

Fire protection reserves remained in a negative position at the end of the year, with a balance of negative $867,338 and $4.43 million committed to approved projects. 

Those commitments include the new North Paris fire station and equipment planned for the facility, including a light rescue vehicle, pumper and tanker-pumper.

The annual statement is prepared in accordance with provincial legislation and County development charge bylaws. 

It will be submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing by July 15 and posted on the County of Brant website for public access.

The Treasurer’s Statement is unaudited.