The Pasco County Commission has signaled its intention to increase its park impact fees to $3,450.15 per residential dwelling, whether single-family or multi-family.
That’s a whopping increase from the current rates of $891.82 per single-family unit and $627 per multi-family unit.
Impact fees are charged to new construction to address new demands caused by growth.
County held their first public hearing on the proposed fees on May 23 and are scheduled to hold a second public hearing on July 11, where they are expected to take a final vote. If adopted, the new fee takes effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
During the May 23 meeting, the board reiterated support it had expressed last September, when it directed its staff to bring the proposed fee schedule back for action.
State law limits impact fee increases to 50%, unless extraordinary circumstances can be demonstrated.
Keith Wiley, the county’s director of parks, recreation and natural resources, said the county clearly qualifies.
The county hasn’t raised its park impact fees since 2002; it has experienced rapid growth in recent years; and it has encountered steeper costs for construction materials due to inflation, Wiley said.
The county’s current facilities cannot keep up with increasing demands, he said.
He also noted the proposed impact fees will be used to support projects outlined in a plan that addresses the county’s park needs through 2045.
“What we’re trying to do is close the gap for level of service for parks throughout the county, through 2045,” Wiley said.
But the higher impact fee is needed, he said. Wiley added: Under existing revenues, it would take 42 years to accomplish the plan.
Stakeholders had asked the county board to phase in the fees over two years, but board members were not interested in that approach.
Wiley thanked the county board for its support.
“Parks are essential, we all know that. Everyone deserves an awesome park. We have a really cool plan, but without finances, you can’t get anything done,” Wiley said.
The county board’s support for the full amount of the proposed impact fees came despite concerns raised by the Pasco County Planning Commission, during its April 20 meeting.
A majority of planning board members said the county had failed to demonstrate extraordinary circumstances, and thus would be limited to a fee increase of 50%.
Planning board members questioned the timing of the giant increase, noting economic conditions have changed since the county board initially indicated support for the proposed fee last September.
Planning board members also questioned the proposed fee, in light of lesser charges in nearby counties, and they said it didn’t seem fair to place the entire burden of the increased costs on the housing industry.
Published May 31, 2023
