Poor weather and a slowing economy helped contribute to a decline in Grey Highlands building statistics in the first half of 2008.

Grey Highlands Deputy Chief Building Official Karl Schipprack presented his department’s midyear building report at Monday morning’s regular council meeting. Building activity across the municipality has declined significantly in 2008 as compared to the previous four years.

At the end of June Grey Highlands had issued 167 total permits, collected $80,333 in fees and the combined estimated value of building in the municipality exceeded $10.7 million.

All three numbers were down significantly compared to the previous four years. In addition, the municipality is seeing fewer new homes being built in 2008. Through the end of June new single-family dwelling permits declined from 29 at this point last year to 21.

In 2007 the number of building permits has decreased by 7.7 per cent. Single-family dwellings have dropped by 27.6 per cent, the municipality has collected 30.7 per cent less in fees, construction value has dropped by 5.5 per cent and septic system permits have dropped by 16.1 per cent.

The drop in fees was a particular concern for council. Prior to receiving the building statistic report council had already approved the transfer of reserve funds into the operating budget to help cover the shortfall in fees being received by the municipality.

Councillor Stewart Halliday asked Schipprack what kinds of comments he was hearing from the public in this off year for building.

“Why are they not building? Are our fees too high?” Halliday asked.

Schipprack said the fees the municipality charges are not the issue.

“I have never heard any complaints about our fees at all. The weather early in the year was a factor. People definitely started late,” said Schipprack, who also noted that a slowing economy was having an impact.

The Deputy CBO also told council that the downturn in statistics has continued through the month of July.

Grey Highlands councillors were concerned with the drop-off in building numbers, but realized they had no options to improve the situation. Councillor Paul McQueen wondered how the Grey Highlands numbers compared to other neighbouring municipalities.

Staff said they would attempt to gather some statistics from other municipalities to be presented to council in a future building department report.