BARTOW, Fla. — Polk County leaders have voted to move forward with a plan that could drastically increase impact fees.
Impact fees are collected from developers to help pay for infrastructure, first responders, schools and other expenses created by growth.
There's a state legal limit on how much those fees can be increased, but Polk County wants an exception to address what has been explosive growth over the past few years.
Under state law, the most any municipality can increase impact fees is 50% every four years, but county leaders say explosive growth has created extraordinary circumstances, and they will likely push the state for an exception based on figures showing an extraordinary need.
It's a delicate economic balance.
Impact fees, once paid by developers, are often passed along to home buyers and can add up to thousands of dollars.
They are designed to address the needs created by growth, but leaders say they’ve fallen far behind.
“I went to the DR Horton groundbreaking the other day and it was brought up multiple times. All we have to do is cross the county line and we can sell a house $80,000 cheaper. Well, there's a reason for that. And that's because we're not charging these guys for the future of the people coming,” said Polk Commissioner Bill Braswell.
A consultant study finds there has been such rapid expansion in the last four years that Polk County will need to double many of its impact fees which is well beyond the 50% increase state law allows.
Those six categories Include EMS, corrections, schools, parks and law enforcement. Some of Polk County’s other impact fees would still see increases, but not more than the state’s 50% cap. They include transportation, the county’s library system and the fire department.
Some have concerns about the potential consequences, such as housing affordability, but most say something needs to be done to fund services and adequate infrastructure.
“We've got lots of people coming, so we need them to pay their fair share,” said Polk County Native Kyle Heath.
“It's just crazy growth. It's too much growth too quickly,” said resident Lisa Viviano.
“I can understand the reasoning,” said resident Tim Bassett, “But my argument is to cut the fat out of our government first.”
Commissioners currently seem split between a plan that would either increase the impact fees immediately or another that phases them in over the next two to four years.
“It didn't just come out of the pockets of the folks who rolled in here over the last two or three years,” said Commissioner Neil Combee. “Everybody’s paying more,”.
Increasing impact fees beyond the state limit also requires a super majority vote of at least 4-1. Right now, commissioners seem to be split 3-2.
If they can't reach a consensus, the fees would revert back to the 50% maximum cap set by state law.
The next step is a public hearing set for Sept. 17, at which point commissioners will vote.
If it passes, the new, and considerably higher impact fees, could be imposed as early as Jan. 1.