New fees and charges to take effect January 1, 2020

NEWS RELEASE
December 11, 2019

At the December 9, 2019 Regular Council meeting, District of Sooke Council adopted Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 752, 2019, along with sixteen related amendment bylaws. Bylaw 752 will increase the fees and charges associated with the provision of specific municipal services such as building permits and fire inspections. Many of these fees have been unchanged for more than a decade.

“Increasing specific fees and charges allows the District to operate services on a cost-recovery basis and shift the expense of providing these services to those who benefit directly,” says Deputy Mayor Megan McMath. “New revenue is estimated at $100,000 in the first year of implementation, which will help to alleviate property tax increases and meet Council’s strategic objective of maintaining sound financial principles and practices.”

The new fees and charges will come into effect as of January 1, 2020. All affected bylaws will be consolidated, with application forms updated and made available on the District of Sooke website.

The District of Sooke’s Checkout Bag Regulation bylaw, which was passed earlier this year, will not come into effect on January 1, 2020. The BC Court of Appeal ruling in July on the City of Victoria’s bylaw, which is similar to that of the District, determined the bylaw to be unlawful. The District will wait until the results of Victoria’s appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada before deciding to proceed.


Media Contact:
Megan McMath, Deputy Mayor
Email: mmcmath@sooke.ca
(250) 642-1634

Dec-11-2019-Fees-and-Charges