Manatee County Commission OKs school impact fees

As Manatee County School Board members voiced at their Nov. 10 meeting, "growth will pay for growth" by the reinstatement of school impact fees.

The school district stopped collecting impact fees — fees charged to developers to offset the effects of new developments in a county — in 2009. Starting in April, the fees will again be posed to developers, which can then charge more money for homes to offset the fee.

"We keep hearing that these impact fees will make the developers pay," Commission Chairwoman Vanessa Baugh said. "But it's the homebuyers who will take the brunt of these fees. We don't take this decision lightly."

In a 5-2 decision, Manatee County Commissioners Jan. 7 approved the school board's recommendation to reinstate school impact fees at 50%, 75% and 100% of the maximum recommended rates proposed by consultant TischlerBise.

In 2016, single-family detached homes will accrue a $3,237.50 impact fee; townhouses or duplexes will cost developers $3,424; manufactured homes will cost $739 and multi-family units will draw a $1,762.50 fee for new development.

By 2018, those costs will range from $3,525 for multi-family units to $6,848 for townhouses, or 100% of the consultant's recommended amount.

Those fees are in addition to impact fees the county charges.

Should the Half-Cent Sales Tax be renewed in 2017 by voter approval, impact fees will drop back down to 50%, because an additional revenue stream will be available to fund needed projects, such as the construction of new schools.