Our area is growing, and county leaders are preparing for that. Commissioners are discussing the implementation of impact fees on the new development of homes and businesses. The money generated from those fees would be strictly used to expand facilities for law enforcement, public safety, county business, parks and recreation, and libraries and culture. Those fees can only be used to fund the share of public facilities needed to meet the demand of the growth.  

The BCC hired Willdan Financial Services to do the study for the proposed impact fees. That company took a complex look at several factors to determine the fees and used data from multiple state and federal reporting sources to calculate the anticipated growth. The company presented the maximum justified development impact fee schedule that would meet the County’s needs. County officials can’t exceed those maximum amounts, and county officials will have to review the fee schedule to make sure it’s staying in line with what facilities are needed and the growth. 

The proposed impact fees vary by the type and size of the building constructed, and factor in the services typically required by each development. If approved, Clay County would join neighboring counties that are already using impact fees for new development. 

County commissioners are going to discuss this topic further at the December 13th BCC meeting. Commissioners held a workshop to discuss the topic and hear public input at the end of November. You can watch that meeting here https://clayfl.new.swagit.com/videos/190176