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Mississauga News - Nov. 24, 2011 - By Chris Clay - cclay@mississauga.net School board wants fees waived The Peel District School Board is asking the City of Mississauga to waive about $250,000 in site plan application fees and other construction charges as it moves forward on building new spaces to accommodate full-day kindergarten students.
Peel school board chair Janet McDougald appeared at Council on Wednesday to ask the municipality to waive fees on 45 full-day kindergarten construction projects, which would cost more than $200,000. Charges to put in a new school as well as four planned additions would bring the total to $250,000.
McDougald noted the school board has been exempt from paying the fees since 1978 but two years ago the City changed its policy.
"We find ourselves in the situation that we believe we're being treated somewhat like a developer with regards to municipal charges," said McDougald.
The chair said she expects construction to "pick up significantly" and that's why the school board is asking for relief. McDougald said the City of Brampton doesn't charge the board for similar fees.
"Every additional dollar we're charged we have to find it somewhere else in our capital budget," said McDougald.
A staff report circulated to councillors recommending against waiving the fees.
Council seemed sympathetic to the board's position, but there was little appetite among councillors to eliminate the charges. Mayor Hazel McCallion said taxpayers want to know the City is accountable for its portion of the property tax bill.
"I'm sure you're facing the same budget constraints that we are, which are enormous," said McCallion.
Ward 6 Councillor Ron Starr said he felt the province should pay for the costs because it was its decision to implement full-day kindergarten.
"If it was going to cost the taxpayer money, they should have thought of it ahead of time," said Starr. "If a different level of government is forcing costs on us they should figure out how (to pay for it) otherwise it's just another burden."
Council voted to receive the presentation and for the mayor and City manager Janice Baker to meet with the board to further discuss the issue.
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