Offsite levies were a hot topic at the last meeting of High River Town Council, with a trio of local developers engaging with Council at a public hearing.

Offsite levies are fee's paid by developers to the Town to build infrastructure like water and sewer lines and roads among other things in new communities.

Mayor Craig Snodgrass says it doesn't make developers happy, but it's something that has to be done to reduce the tax burden on residents.

"I get it from the developers standpoint, but we also have to look at it from the Town of High River's standpoint, that when these new developments come on line, that new development has to pay for its own infrastructure, right?"

Snodgrass says no matter what, the levies for new developments will be going up.

"Our offsite levies were low. Yes, there's other communities that have no offsite levies. That's just reckless in my mind. Growth is extremely expensive. So, when we have new developments, they need to pay more to support the infrastructure."

Snodgrass says Council, Town staff and the developers will all get together to try to find a number that balances their needs to be able to sell lots, with the Town's to recoup infrastructure costs.

 

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