TORONTO -- Churches that use Toronto schools to meet say they may be forced to find other places to congregate due to rental increases issued by the Toronto District School Board.

"It feels like constructive eviction," said Pastor Dan MacDonald of Grace Toronto Church. "Our confidence in the board has been greatly damaged, and I would like an answer as to why religious groups got singled out."

MacDonald said his church is facing an increase from $78,000 to $190,000 annually for the use of Rosedale Heights's auditorium, cafeteria, and a few classrooms for four hours a week.

The school board recently announced a 43.7 per cent permit fee hike in order to help compensate for a $110-million budget shortfall it faced in June.

Religious organizations are no longer classified as charitable groups by the TDSB, leaving them unqualified for the provincial subsidy geared towards the community use of schools.

Under the revised categorization, groups such as Scouts Canada or Cadets fall into Level 1, while the YMCA or charitable organizations are considered Level 2.

For the use of an auditorium on a Sunday, for example, Level 1 users would pay $131.49, Level 2 users $219.14, and non-subsidized holders would pay $438.28 per hour.

For Toronto's faith-based groups that rent school facilities, this can mean staggering increases in rental fees. One church that meets in the city's west end is facing an 800 per cent increase.

MacDonald said the Board failed to communicate its decision in a timely manner, with fees doubling on only a few days notice.

"I think they need to be more wise, professional and fair. I'm baffled by the way they're raising fees," he said.

Rev. Yoga Thomas of Scarborough's Living Word Missionary Church said he was left "clueless, frustrated and disappointed" after learning his annual agreement would rise to more than $100,000 from $14,000 if the church uses the same facilities.

"We're running around looking for places to move as soon as possible, but where can I go with 200 people? The TDSB didn't give us any breathing space," said Thomas.

MacDonald and Thomas said their groups weren't notified about the exact numbers until Aug. 27.

TDSB spokesman Ryan Bird said he couldn't speak to the exact timing of the letters, but noted "it's been an open and public process since the beginning of the year."

The reclassification isn't targeting faith-based groups, as other larger adult groups, including sports organizations are affected, Bird said.

Permit staff will be looking at different options, Bird said, such as different groups sharing the space, or reducing the number of hours used by permit holders.

"We would like them to continue to permit our space, we just have to make sure we're doing that in a financially responsible way," said Bird.