Township of Blandford-Blenheim Council received the 2025 Development Charges Annual Report during its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
The report, which is required under the provisions of the Development Charges Act, was submitted by Denise Krug, the Township’s Director of Finance and Treasurer.
Development Charges are fees that the Township charges builders when putting up new homes, buildings or businesses. The money then helps to pay for things those new buildings need; things like roads, water, parks, fire halls, pipes and sewers, and other infrastructure.
Charging development fees ultimately ensures that developers share in the cost for growth, rather than leaving it up to the existing taxpayers.
The overall report provides an overview of development-related growth and the financial performance of Blandford-Blenheim’s Development Charges (DC) program. It outlines DC collections, reserve fund balances and expenditures, ensuring transparency and accountability.
“The report confirms that development activity continues to contribute toward the funding of essential municipal infrastructure,” stated Krug. “DC reserves remain a critical tool in supporting responsible and sustainable growth, helping to reduce the financial burden on existing taxpayers while enabling the Township to meet increasing service demands. Overall, the Township’s DC framework remains aligned with legislative requirements and supports long-term financial planning, infrastructure delivery, and complete community development.”
According to the report, the 2025 opening balance for development charges was $205,763.27.
Throughout 2025, the municipality collected $52,539.00 in development charges, and earned $3,492.90 in interest. The total amount transferred from DCs in 2025 was $288,434, all of which went towards funding capital projects.
Of that $288,434 total, $200,000 was used for the new Princeton Fire Hall, $26,437 was used for hardsurfacing Township Road 6B, $50,000 was used for the Princeton municipal drain and street upgrades, and $11,997 was used to hardsurface Oxford-Waterloo Road.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
