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Deviating from the norm on DCCs

Rossland City Council has decided to eliminate Development Cost Charges (DCCs).

Rossland City Council has decided to eliminate Development Cost Charges (DCCs).

According to a provincial government report, 111 municipalities in B.C. have Development Cost Charges (DCCs) ranging from a few hundred dollars to over $30,000, with an average of over $8,000 for a single-family dwelling.

These municipalities vary from large, fast- growing cities to small, slow-growing rural communities.

If DCCs work for about 70 per cent of the municipalities in B.C., why is Rossland so different that the city claims they are not applicable here?

On the one hand, the City’s position seems to be, we expect little development so DCCs are not suitable for Rossland.

On the other hand, the infrastructure for the Columbia/Washington project is being sized for a projected population of 10,000 at Red Mountain and the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary has been told to use a future Rossland population of over 17,000 for any land purchase that may be necessary for a new sewage treatment plant.

As Yogi Berra reportedly said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up somewhere else!”

Ken Holmes, Rossland