High School Student Population

Where do they come from? Homes of course. Makes sense doesn't it?

A few years ago, I did a bit of research into various taxes hidden in the price of a home. They amounted to about $40ks. The largest figure was for development charges. The region and school boards calculate their own and provide the town with the requisition .The town collects it We are the tax collectors.

So... the town collects for recreation facilities in anticipation of need created by new families moving into new homes. Developers are required by the Planning Act to provide 5% of their land for parks.

Therefore, families which produce students for schools, have already paid for parks pre-determined to meet their needs in the price of their homes.

Schools, particularly high schools, which provide indoor and outdoor recreational facilities,
and share them with municipalities, do not therefore generate a need for more parks.

When Elizabeth Crowe, Aurora/Newmarket Separate School Trustee, delegated to the town for exemption from the Cash in Lieu of parks payment , the request was valid.

The refusal was unbelievable.

In effect, the town was demanding the same parks be paid for twice.

Once by the developer who built the homes and charged the cost back the families who bought the homes and produced the children who attended the school which had to be built by the school board to accommodate the students who came from the homes ...etc etc etc.

And paid for again as Cash in Lieu by the school board.

The board had land surplus to their needs. It is contiguous to town land being developed as an arboretum. Ms. Crow offered to transfer title to the town as an alternate to Cash In Lieu.

That too was refused.

Cash in Lieu of parks charge is calculated on the basis of value of development land. The town didn't bother with an appraisal. They just named a figure which calculated to a fee of
$413 thousand dollars plus.

Both public bodies, the town and the board are currently engaged, at the expense of legal counsel, in negotiations to arrive at a settlement.

How is any of that in the interest of the taxpayers?