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Schools

School Board urges increasing impact fees

Members say the money is needed to keep up with new construction. But how high a hike is the big question.

By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK
Published February 9, 2005

TAMPA - The Hillsborough School Board wants the County Commission to increase new home impact fees, in part to help pay a $276.5-million shortfall for building schools.

The problem: They aren't sure how much political capital to spend on the proposal, which requires commissioners to raise charges on home builders. The single-family home impact fee for schools currently is $196; the maximum justifiable amount, according to a consultant, is $4,745.

The full fee would have generated about $63-million more in 2003.

"I personally feel there is no will on the County Commission to change taxes at all," board chairwoman Candy Olson said.

She suggested board members meet one-on-one with commissioners, to see if they can find a middle ground. An alternate proposal is to update the impact fee ordinance with revised formulas, the net effect being a $317 fee per new single-family home.

That level would have generated about $4.4-million in added fees in 2003.

Several board members argued the commission should at least go that far.

"Their job is to take care of this county and whatever goes with it," board member Carol Kurdell said. "I'm not interested in political will. I'm interested in doing what is right for the children of this county."

The current impact fee, she contended, is not appropriate for a county as fast-growing as Hillsborough. The board should ask the commission to consider the formula changes as a "very small first step," she said.

Board member Jack Lamb noted that the district needs more schools because commissioners continue to approve more new homes.

Commission chairman Jim Norman said Tuesday he would prefer looking at other revenue sources before raising impact fees. He suggested the district charge its full 2-mill capital outlay tax first, which it already does.

Commissioner Mark Sharpe said a uniform impact fee increase would be a mistake, though he might support a targeted hike.

The two new School Board members, Doretha Edgecomb and Susan Valdes, said they may need more time to review the issue, which was before them for the first time.

Olson said she would bring the matter back to the board in about a month.

Times staff writer Michael Van Sickler contributed to this report.

[Last modified February 9, 2005, 00:43:19]