By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

A citizens' committee studying the idea of charging developers a special tax to pay the costs of new county services that their developments require hopes to have a recommendation for the County Commission by December.

“They may have something for the board in December,” said Chris Venice, Fayette's chief planner.

The group has narrowed from seven to three the list of services that might be funded by “impact fees,” designed to recover the costs brought on by the impact of new development.

“They've narrowed it down to discussing fire, recreation and libraries,” said Venice.

State law allows counties to charge impact fees for four more services, but for each service funded through the fees, he county must prove the impact in dollars and cents.

For fire service, recreation and libraries, committee members are now working to define service areas, inflation rates, levels of service and other factors that will affect how much the county will be able to charge developers.

Impact fees are limited to the impact of the new development. Developers can't be charged to provide new services to existing residents.

“We're making progress,” said Venice.

The committee currently is meeting Thursdays at 4 p.m. at the County Administrative Complex.