Wednesday, November 1, 2000
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Wednesday, November 1, 2000 |
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Impact fee plan awaits state OK By DAVE HAMRICK
Fayette County is ready to submit its plan for impact fees to help pay for a new jail and fire stations to state agencies for their approval. County commissioners last week approved the latest revised fee structure and agreed to send the paperwork to the state Department of Community Affairs and Atlanta Regional Commission in hopes of beginning fee collections early next year. Impact fees are charged to developers for each new home or business to help pay the costs of new government services and facilities made necessary by growth. Commissioners approved charging the fees in principle last May, but with the proviso that all of Fayette's cities must agree to charge the fees within their borders for the jail. After numerous meetings and revisions to the original plan, all the cities agreed to the latest iteration, and the commissioners' action last week allows staff to prepare the paperwork for state approval. Fees for fire services will be charged only within the county's fire tax district, so agreements with Fayetteville, Tyrone and Peachtree City were not needed for those fees. Under the latest plan, developers will pay $869.78 for each new home built in Fayette to help pay for the jail, and will pay $600.57 for each new home in the fire district to pay for about $16.7 million in new equipment and stations for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. But the fees will be discounted slightly in early years of the program because developers will receive a credit against future property taxes the homes will pay. For instance, in the first year, the jail impact fee will actually be $794.12 per home, sliding up each year for 20 years to reach $869.78. For the jail, developers also will pay fees for each new retail business built: $14,232.69 for businesses over 50,000 square feet, $9,488.46 for businesses from 10,000 to 50,000 square feet, and $4,331.56 for those under 10,000 square feet. For industrial and other institutional type buildings, developers will pay $2,609.33. For fire services, fees charged for new businesses and industries are divided into 10 categories ranging from $873.56 for unclassified establishments to $7,206.90 for manufacturing facilities. Last week's action fulfills a campaign promise for commissioners Greg Dunn and Linda Wells, elected in 1998. Commissioner Harold Bost joined the two in pushing for impact fees early in their terms. Commissioners Glen Gosa and Herb Frady voted against the proposal in each step of the process, saying there are better ways to pay for the county's needs. Proponents are hopeful that state approval will allow collection of the impact fees to begin early in 2001.
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