Calls to Action
Recommend charging Development Cost Charges (DCCs) on a square-footage basis to encourage smaller, affordable housing, while adopting stricter questioning processes to keep municipal spending efficient.
Why It Matters
If we keep property-tax increases at a reasonable level, such as tied to inflation, this will increase affordability.
The city net annual surpluses have been increasing yearly and as of December 2025, the city had a net annual surplus of $229 million. These surpluses could stay in the hands of the citizens and property owners leading to more affordable residential and commercial rents, the latter supporting small businesses. This leads to a more prosperous community. The city should spend the tax dollars carefully and wisely.
The Development Cost Charges (DCCs) should be revised to be on a square footage basis to encourage the construction of more affordable and sustainable housing, i.e., smaller and more moderate sized homes. Such homes provide more greenspace on residential lots.
The city should spend the taxpayers’ money carefully and wisely. A new process to provide tools to achieve this should be adopted. Questions can be posed: Does the city need this? Is this a reasonable cost for this? Is this what the citizens want?