By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Fayette County and its cities are near agreement on imposition of impact fees to help pay for a new county jail and fire service improvements, said County Commission Chairman Harold Bost this week.

Impact fees are charged to developers to help defray the cost of new government services needed because of their developments.

“I am so pleased with the cooperation of all the cities,” said Bost.

The county and cities had agreed in principle to impose the impact fees both inside and outside the city limits, but city leaders wanted the fees calculated using square footage of the jail as a basis rather than on a straight population basis, said Bost.

“We didn't have a problem with that and are working on calculations using the new methodology,” said Bost.

Once the calculations are provided to the cities, they will have the required two public hearings before approving impact fees for their residents.

Fayetteville has scheduled its public hearing for its council meeting Monday at 7 p.m. at City Hall, in hopes of receiving the county's calculations before then. If all goes well, the city can take action at its June 19 meeting.

Once all the cities take action, probably by the end of the month, Bost said, the county can send a complete packet of information to the state Department of Community Affairs for its approval, which is expected to take 60 to 120 days.

“Then we can get started collecting the fees,” said Bost.

County commissioners are seeking to impose fees of an estimated $1,750 for each new home built, of which $820 would go for jail construction and $930 for fire stations and equipment.

County officials hope to start collecting the fees as soon as possible.

Every dollar collected in impact fees is a dollar in taxes that can be saved.

Officials expect to have to increase taxes to pay for the construction projects, even with the impact fees.