County suspends school impact fees

Sarasota County commissioners approved yesterday a two-year halt to the collection of school impact fees on new residential development.

The money is used to build new schools.

The Sarasota County School Board asked the commission to consider a temporary moratorium on the fees because it has no immediate plans to begin constructing any new facilities. It also believes the suspension of fee collection could spur economic development.

School impact fees tack on about $2,000 to every single-family home and about $500 to every multi-family unit built in the county.

During the construction boom four years ago, the impact fees generated more than $10 million, but last year they brought in only about $500,000.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].