Road and Educational Facilities Impact Fees were once again on the agenda at the March 10th Board of County Commissioner’s Meeting.
Commissioners voted to deny an ordinance that established an effective date for road impact fee implementation for March 17th 2015. They also voted to deny an ordinance that removed the suspension on educational facilities impact fees.
Commissioner Rowden questioned Assistant County Administrator Brian Malmberg about how much road impact fee money is left. Mr. Malmberg said he did not have the exact figures in front of him, but moneys would be spent by the end of next year. Commissioner Rowden also asked of Mr. Malmberg how much the State Road 50 and Mariner Blvd improvements are costing. Mr. Malmberg explained that the latest estimate is $7 million. He went over the alternative revenue options that are available for road improvements: sales tax, gas tax, ad valorem, road impact fees, and toll roads. He said that the additional 3 cents of the gas tax could be bonded.
Commissioner Rowden emphasized that she would not vote for anything other than reimplementation of impact fees. A motion passed for denial of the ordinance 3-2, with Commissioners Rowden and Holcomb in opposition. Staff was instructed to establish a new ordinance with an effective date set for the end of February 2016.
The suspension of the educational facilities impact fee was scheduled to be lifted May 9th, 2015.
Dukes made a motion to deny the ordinance lifting the suspension of the educational facilities impact fee and directed staff to create a new ordinance that continues the suspension of the fee until the last day of February 2016. The motion carried 3-2 with Commissioners Holcomb and Rowden voting against it.