Commissioners Seek Citizen Input on Resolution to Reduce Education Impact Fees

The will hold a public hearing to get feedback on a resolution to reduce the education portion of county impact fees.

Builders of new homes pay impact fees with the goal of having new development pay for itself. The impact fees allow the county to expand services (e.g. build new schools) to meet demand so that both new and existing residents are provided with the same level of service.

Do you think the county should stop collecting education impact fees until 2014? Tell us in comments.

During an open meeting on June 26 the commissioners directed county staff to draft a resolution (see attached) reducing the education impact fee to zero for a period of two years. According to a statement, the impact fee for parks would still be collected and would not be modified by this resolution. The Commissioners may accept or modify the proposed resolution based on the comments received at the public hearing.

County Director of Management and Budget Ted Zaleski said the use of impact fees is restricted to providing capacity to serve growth. He said there are limits on how long the county can hold collected impact fees without using them.

"We have no appropriate projects in our CIP and would start running into a problem of holding the fees too long if we continue to collect," Zaleski said.

The resolution as written states that the education impact fees will be reinstated in 2014 (see proposed rates below).

The hearing will be held on Thursday, Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. in room 311 of the County Office Building located, 225 North Center Street.

Comments can also be sent to the commissioners in advance of the Aug. 9 meeting. The commissioners’ office can be reached via email at commissioners@ccg.carr.org, by phone at 410-386-2043 or by mail at 225 North Center Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157.

Current and Proposed Education Impact Fees

Current education impact fees:

• Single family - $6,303
• Mobile home - $3,599
• Townhouse - $7,610
• Multi-family - $2,787

Proposed education impact fees when reinstated in 2014:

• Single family - $6,303
• Mobile home - $3,061
• Townhouse - $7,006
• Multi-family - $2,257

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