A clearer look at the City of Winnipeg impact fee refund

Mayor Brian Bowman said the extra charges are necessary to pay for related infrastructure in new sprawling neighbourhoods.(File image)

WINNIPEG — The City of Winnipeg’s finance committee is giving a clearer look at the final total of impact fees the city collected, and how much they will have to pay back.

The report said the city previously overstated the number of permits issued and impact fees paid. It said the reserve fund now sits at $36,980,774.29.

The total comes from more than 3,500 permits issued between May 2017 and September 2020, along with $697,179.54 in interest.

Impact fees imposed a development charge on developers and builders of $54.73 per square metre of floor area.

In July, a judge had ruled the impact fee was an invalid, indirect tax and the city was ordered to issue refunds. The ruling was finalized in October.

Mayor Brian Bowman has previously said the city would not appeal the decision, and a process for refunds of impact fees is being finalized.

The report will be discussed on November 13.

-With files from CTV’s Jeff Keele.