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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFND-016-18Clarington Finance Department Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Report To: General Government DG3ODLJ'tBRSPVV Committee Date of Meeting: December 10, 2018 Report Number: FND-016-18 File Number: Resolution: JC -055-18, JC -056-18 By-law Number: Report Subject: SERVICE FEE AMENDMENTS Recommendations: 1. That Report FND-016-18 be received; 2. That the recommended changes to service fees addressed in Report FND-016-18 be approved; and 3. That the By-law attached to Report FND-016-18 be approved. Municipality of Clarington Resort FND-016-18 Report Overview Paae 2 This report has been prepared to present recommendations on rates and fees charged by the Finance Department for information and services and to obtain Council's approval to amend By-law 96-32. 1. Background 1.1 The Finance Department completed a service fee review in 2017, creating a number of changes effective January 1, 2018. Over the course of 2018, a number of concerns were brought forward. 2. Proposed Addition 2.1 The service fee for dishonoured payments was inadvertently removed from Schedule "F" attached to By-law 2017-098 effective January 1, 2018. This service fee is currently charged by other departments at a rate of $35.00. It is recommended this fee be reinstated effective January 1, 2019. 3. Proposed Changes to Existing Fees Tax Certificate Rush Service 3.1 Effective January 1, 2018, a new Tax Certificate Rush Service was added which guarantees a Tax Certificate be prepared on the same day. It is recommended to remove the wording "same day". The removal of "same day" will allow flexibility to process certificates once a day instead of multiple times throughout the day, and time for processing on days when staff are away. Our procedure will be to process all Rush Tax Certificates within 24 to 48 hours. Collection Letter/Notice 3.2 Currently a service fee of $25.00 is added for a collection letter/notice for all accounts that have outstanding taxes two years or greater. It is recommended that this fee be changed to be fair and consistent for all taxpayers receiving a collection notice. It is recommended that a service fee of $5.00 be implemented to all accounts that receive a notification regardless of the tax year in which taxes are outstanding. This will help recover the costs of printing and postage. 3.3 Notification of outstanding taxes are currently mailed three times a year March, July and October. Municipality of Clarington Report FND-016-18 Page 3 3.4 A survey completed by the Town of Ajax in mid -2018, shows the service fees for collection letters for neighboring municipalities. This service fee is also common for municipalities outside the Durham Region. Service Ajax Whitby Pickering Oshawa Clarington Collection Letter N/A N/A 5.00 5.00 $25.00 (Min. 2 years of arrears) 4. Concurrence Not applicable 5. Conclusion 5.1 It is respectfully recommended that Council approve the attached By-law and Finance Department — Schedule 'F" to By-law #96-32 for rates and fees to come into effect on January 1, 2019. 6. Strategic Plan Application Not applicable 5�; Submitted by. Trevor Pinn, B.Com, CPA, CA Deputy Treasurer Reviewed by: Andrew C. Allison, B. Comm, LL.B CAO Staff Contact: Jessica James, Tax Collector, 905-623-3379 ext 2609 orjjames@clarington.net Attachment: Attachment 1 - By-law to amend service fees There are no interested parties to be notified of Council's decision. Attachment 1 to Report FND-016-18 The Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington By-law Number 2018 - Being a by-law to amend By-law 96-32 to require the payment of fees for information and services Whereas at its meeting held on December 17, 2018, the Council approved the recommendations contained in Report Now therefore the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington enacts as follows: 1. That By-law 96-32 be amended by deleting Schedule "F" and replacing it with attached Schedule "F"; and 2. That this By-law shall come into effect January 1, 2019. By -Law passed in open session this 17th day of December, 2018 Adrian Foster, Mayor C. Anne Greentree, Clerk SCHEDULE "F" to By-law #96-32 Finance Department - Schedule of Rates & Fees Effective January 1, 2019 Tax Certificate $65.00 Tax Certificate — Rush Service $75.00 Tax Receipts/Letters $10.00 Statement of Account $10.00 Refund of incorrect payment by Lawyers, Mortgage Companies $40.00 Electronic Payment Correction- First at no charge for resident only $25.00 Reprint Tax Bill, PASP Letter, Adjustment, Apportionment Notification, etc $10.00 Change of Ownership Fee $30.00 New Tax Account Set-up Fee $50.00 Research/Archival Fee (Per hr.- 1 hr. minimum charge) $30.00 Post Dated Cheque Removal or Date Change $25.00 Mortgage Company Information (per roll) $10.00 Addition to tax roll eg. Region Water/Sewer Lien, POA Arrears, Development Charge etc. $25.00 Collection Letter/Notice $5.00 Dishonoured Payments (Pre -authorized payments/cheques) $35.00 SCHEDULE "F" to By-law #96-32 Finance Department - Schedule of Rates & Fees Effective January 1, 2018 Tax Certificate $65.00 Tax Certificate — Rush Service - Same Day $85.00 Tax Receipts/Letters $10.00 Statement of Account $10.00 Refund of incorrect payment by Lawyers, Mortgage Companies $40.00 Electronic Payment Correction- First at no charge for resident only $40.00 Reprint Tax Bill, PASP Letter, Adjustment, Apportionment Notification, etc $10.00 Change of Ownership Fee $30.00 New Tax Account Set-up Fee $50.00 Research/Archival Fee (Per hr.- 1 hr. minimum charge) $30.00 Post Dated Cheque Removal or Date Change $25.00 Mortgage Company Information (per roll) $10.00 Addition to tax roll eg. Region Water/Sewer Lien, POA Arrears, Development Charge etc. $25.00 Collection Letter/Notice $25.00 Comparison of Fees for Service Ajax Whitby Pickering Oshawa Clarington Tax Certificate $65.00 $65.00 $65.00 $65.00 $60.00 Tax Certificate - Rush Service $65.00 $65.00 $85.00 $65.00 $60.00 Tax Receipts/Letters $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $7.00 Statement of Account $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $7.00 Refund of incorrect payment by Lawyers, Mortgage Companies $45.00 $40.00 $45.00 $0.00 $33.33 Electronic Payment Correction- First at no charge for resident only $45.00 $40.00 $46.00 $35.00 $0.00 Reprint Tax Bill, PASP Letter, Adjustment, Apportionment Notification, etc $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $7.00 Change of Ownership Fee $35.00 $25.00 $32.50 $15.00 $25.00 New Tax Account Set-up Fee $50.00 $50.00 $50.00 $50.00 $25.00 Research/Archival Fee (Per hr.- 1 hr. minimum charge) $30.00 $0.00 $30.00 $0.00 $30.00 Post Dated Cheque Removal or Date Change $25.00 $20.00 $46.00 $0.00 $25.00 Mortgage Company Information (per roll) $10.00 $10.00 $12.50 $10.00 $10.00 Addition to tax roll eg. Region Water/Sewer Lien, POA Arrears, Development Charge etc. $25.00 $25.00 $25.00 $30.00 $25.00 Collection Letter/Notice $0.001 $0.001 $35.001 $0.00 $25.00