Special Council Meeting Summary – June 18, 2026
Norfolk County Council met for a Special Council meeting on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Residents can view the meeting agenda on the County website.
Below are highlights from the meeting.
Staff reports and discussion items
Development Charge Reduction Program Overview and Application
- Council received an overview of a new federal and provincial Development Charge Reduction Program, which would require municipalities to reduce development charges by 30–50% for three years in exchange for potential funding to support housing-enabling infrastructure
- Staff outlined potential benefits, including access to funding for key infrastructure projects and support for increased housing supply, along with risks such as lost development charge revenue, financial pressure on the tax base, and uncertainty around funding approval and growth outcomes
- Council discussed concerns about the lack of guaranteed funding, tight timelines, inability to ensure savings would be passed on to homebuyers, and overall financial risk to the municipality
- Council voted to receive the report as information and not to proceed with applying to the program
Council and staff emphasized their continued focus on maintaining a strong financial foundation while exploring options to help keep life affordable for Norfolk County residents.
