August 16, 2005
Raise builders' impact fees
Today, the Palm Beach County Commission will consider raising by 18 percent the fees the county charges builders. The increase makes sense because that money helps build parks, schools, libraries and roads. Those growth-related costs are rising along with the rest of South Florida construction.
The so-called "impact fees" are reviewed every two years. Consultant James Nicholas, a University of Florida professor, calculated the need to raise the fee for homes with 1,400 to 1,999 square feet to $10,030 from $8,520, which will be the state's third-highest, behind Osceola and Collier counties. The fee for the increasingly popular larger homes, up to 3,600 square feet, will rise 17 percent to $11,368.
Home builders will complain that the fee is another blow to affordable housing. But more than half of new homes in Palm Beach County sell for more than $500,000. An increase of $1,600 won't drive those buyers away. Martin County just raised impact fees significantly. Finding ways to build less costly homes may include subsidizing those fees. But it's only fair that new homeowners in Florida help meet the rising cost of growth.
Posted by Opinion staff at August 16, 2005 6:15 PMFor a rag that complains about the cost of housing for teachers, firemen, police etc, advocating a mandated increase in the price of houses is a curious position indeed.
Posted by: ploof at August 16, 2005 3:31 AMWe all realize that the world isn't always black and white, but if impact fees are terrific for public services, why is the Post so adamant about not charging new FPL customers for the impact of new infrastructure to support them.
The Post seems to believe that charges for new roads and schools are good, but electricity should be free...... strange.
Rick
Posted by: Rick Caird at August 16, 2005 5:55 AMOnce again our Gov't. is increasing a tax that is already being charged in an inappropriate manner. If more funds are needed for growth why should only those who choose to build new homes carry the excess burden? Most homebuyers who build are already established locally so they are not bringing new demand on the local resources. The funds needed to support the influx of Florida citizens should be charged to all residential and commercial developed property owners. Since the majority of new Florida transplants who are the ones causing the need are buying resales or renting they should share in the expense. Unless our taxing structure makes a major change it seems the best suggestion is to hike the property tax rate across the board for developed parcels. At least this way everyone is paying for their fair share yearly and as the fund demand changes so does everyone's share of the expense. Say I build while many new residents are flooding the state this year, and you choose to build in ten years when the growth settles and impact fees steady or drop. Why should I have been penalized by paying more because I built when I did? After all, I have lived in Florida my entire life outside of serving in the Military and have not changed my drain on the local resources as an individual!
Posted by: Chris Chicoyne at August 19, 2005 3:18 PM
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