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Fee structure in the works to ease Orangeville’s taxpayer burden

August 20, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By JAMES MATTHEWS

Orangeville will try to sell a new recreation fee setup for Dufferin County residents outside the municipality.

Orangeville has historically managed non-resident participation in recreation programs through a 25 per cent non-resident surcharge and a three-day delayed registration period under the town’s Fees and Charges Bylaw. It was a means to recognize non-resident use of recreation services that reflect a portion of operating and capital costs.

Heather Savage, the town’s community services general manager, said during council’s Aug. 10 meeting that a three-day delay often means being placed on a waiting list for program access.

As a regional service centre within the county, Orangeville offers several core recreation programs that serve both local residents and those of neighbouring municipalities.

Delivery costs is primarily borne by Orangeville taxpayers. And the other municipalities save money by not providing their own programming.

Earlier this year, Orangeville staff introduced the concept of regional recreation access and potential framework options to the Dufferin CAO’s Group. Updated information and key considerations were reviewed with municipalities in late March, and a county-wide recreation inventory was compiled in May.

Orangeville staff completed a more detailed assessment of non-resident participation, program demand, available recreation services across Dufferin municipalities, and the cost impacts associated with delivering programs to users from outside Orangeville.

Staff then developed a proposed non-resident fee framework intended to support a more balanced recovery of costs while maintaining regional access to key recreation services.

The framework focuses on high-demand core programs, specifically swimming, skating lessons, and camps. Dufferin County municipalities would contribute between 15 per cent to 20 per cent of the eligible net cost.

“This provides a reasonable range of potential cost recovery while recognizing that Orangeville would continue to absorb most costs as the host municipality and primary service provider,” according to a report to council.

For comparison, the annual non-resident fee to access Orangeville Public Library services is $210 per household. The proposed non-resident fee for core recreation programs would range from about $3 to $127 per household.

Municipalities would pay annually in a four-year agreement with Orangeville.

If a county municipality chooses not to participate in the Non-Resident Fee Framework, the residents of that municipality will be charged a fee of 100 per cent to 150 per cent above the base program fee and would remain subject to delayed registration.

A separate approach may be considered for residents of Caledon, Erin and other non-Dufferin municipalities.

Savage said the fee framework is intended to be evidence-based and easily implemented. The fees will be phased in over time, she said.

“This is not meant to be burdensome,” she said. “Together, we hope to build a regional service that is transparent and accessible by all.”

Deputy Mayor Todd Taylor said the framework is so important because Orangeville’s taxes are so high for residents. Decisions were made years ago to build arenas, specifically the Alder Street arena, that should never have been constructed, he said.

“Orangeville took it all on, on our own, on the taxpayers’ backs and footed that [construction cost],” he said. “It’s frustrating to me that’s what happened back in the day, but we need to find a new way forward.”

Councillor Joe Andrews said the non-resident fee framework is long overdue.

“The costs just have not been supported other than [through] the support from our tax base,” Andrews said, and added that other county municipalities “have had a sweet deal for a number of years where we have had to pay. The [Orangeville] tax base has had to pay for capital in particular.”

Coun. Tess Prendergast said she believes the fee setup will be well received by other municipalities in the county.

“I think it will be an easy sell to the neighbouring municipalities when their residents realize they’re able to sign up (for programs) at the same time as Orangeville residents,” she said. “This will also better inform our programming.”

Coun. Rick Stevens opposed the idea of same-time registration for all county residents.

“Orangeville residents should still get to apply first,” Stevens said. “We live here. This is where we shop, this is where we play.”

The Tony Rose Memorial Recreation Centre is in dire need of repairs. The disrepair is why some of its facilities have been closed. Stevens asked if the fee structure will allow the other municipalities to provide input when the time comes for Orangeville to address the arena.

“We would like to invite them even to our user group consultations,” Savage said. “If they’re debate whether or not they should build a facility and it’s 20 minutes down the road and we have capacity and they’re willing to support ours, I suggest we have that conversation and figure out how does it work?”

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