It’s not clear yet how much Pasco County will increase school impact fees charged against new residential development, but there appears to be a consensus on the board that some increase is merited.
School district officials and the building community also agree that higher fees will help address the district’s problem of providing school facilities to accommodate the district’s burgeoning enrollment growth.
But, homebuilders and apartment developers don’t support the full amount of the proposed rate increases.
They say the building community is being asked to shoulder too much of the burden.
They’ve asked the Pasco County Commission to reduce the proposed impact fees that were recommended by a school board consultant.
All of these issues came up during the first public on an ordinance that would increase the impact fees.
The second public hearing is set for July 11 at 1:30 p.m., at the historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City.
The Tampa Bay Builders Association expressed its concerns in a May 1 letter to commissioners.
“The School District proposes very significant increases in the impact fees for single family detached (+ $4,152, 85%); single family attached (+$1,877, 107%); multifamily (+$3,421,183%) and mobile homes (+$2,673, 93%).
“However, even if the impact fees were increased to these levels the deficit (as projected by the School District) would be a staggering $284 million,” the letter notes.
“We want to be part of the solution for funding, but we know we cannot be the only source of revenue. We support an increase in the school impact fee for single family detached homes of $2,300,” the letter says.
Mark Spada, president of the builders’ association, reiterated those positions during the public hearing.
The association also advocates an effective date of Jan. 1, 2018, for the higher fees.
The current proposal calls for the new fees to take effect 90 days after the ordinance is adopted.
Representatives for the multifamily industry and a land broker also expressed concerns about the proposed fees.
The multifamily industry representatives said the fees are disproportionate for multifamily and will undermine new apartment development in Pasco County. They also questioned the data used to compute how many students are generated from multifamily developments.
A land broker urged commissioners to look at the big picture, noting the proposed fees will raise development costs so significantly that it will drive away new projects. Besides hurting land owners who want to sell their land, she said, it will also damage the county’s potential tax base.
On the flip side, others urged commissioners to boost the impact fees to the level recommended by the consultant.
They said that residential growth has put a squeeze on the school district and that it cannot keep pace with enrollment demands.
Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd said the district is trying to address the issue before the district has schools at 200 percent capacity, which it has in the past.
“The answer to solving school overcrowding is not by adding portables.
“Kids can learn just as well in a portable as they can in a concrete building,” Gadd said. But, he noted, the bathrooms, cafeteria, media center and other facilities are built to accommodate a school’s permanent capacity.
When too many portables are added, he said, the infrastructure in the school building doesn’t work.
Commissioners appear to be leaning toward an increase, based on their questions and remarks during the public hearing, but it is unclear how much of an increase they will support — or when the increase would take effect.
“I’m in favor of doing something,” said Commissioner Mike Wells. “The issue is affordable housing. Affordable housing is multifamily.”
“I know we need to do something on impact fees,” added Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.
“I do have a concern on these multifamily numbers. “If we have a sliding scale on the houses, why are we charging a studio the same price as say, a three-bedroom apartment? That doesn’t make sense to me, if it’s about student generation.”
It may be possible to have a tiered system for apartments, said David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney, but he would need to talk with the school board’s consultant about it.
“We’re happy to look at the multifamily issue,” Gadd said.
The second public hearing is set for July 11 at 1:30 p.m., at the historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City.
Published June 28, 2017
