Impact Fees Going UP and UP!

New Construction may begin to see some dollar crunching which will be passed on to the buyer. Impact fees are one-time assessments levied on construction to raise money for the new schools, roads and other services or infrastructure needed to serve the development.

St. Johns County:
Under the county's existing impact fee system, all single-family residential construction currently pays the same impact fee of $2,630. However, under the new two-tier structure, homes that are 1,800 square feet or less will pay an impact fee of $6,685; all other homes will pay an impact fee of $9,299.

Brevard County:
Commissioners will discuss the proposal to charge a school impact fee of up to $4,445 on new homes during the April 29 meeting. The county school board wants the impact fees to help pay for the new public schools needed for its burgeoning student population.

Flagler County:
School Board is calling for a school impact fee in the range of $3,000

Collier County:
According to county figures, when the total fee goes into effect, in today's dollars it would create a $160 fee for a 1,000-square-foot single-family home, a $1,697 fee for a 1,000-square-foot retail space, and a $1,075 fee for a 1,000-square-foot office. It also would charge a $308 fee for a 1,000-square-foot church and a $526 fee for a 1,000-square-foot general industrial building.

Lake County:
Commissioners in Lake County, Fla., have approved a hike in school impact fees to $7,055 per home, effective at the beginning of February. Builders will be permitted to make prepayments at the current level of $3,489 until the new fee is implemented.