Tuesday, September 22, 2009
politics / economy / Chatham County / Pittsboro Higher impact fees for Chatham County residents?
Posted by Lisa Sorg @lisasorg on Tue, Sep 22, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Rebekah L. Cowell reports for the Indy on possible new impact fees for Chatham County residents:
A big house with a lot of bedrooms could cost Chatham County residents extra money in impact fees.
Last night, Chatham County residents discussed possible increased impact fees and their economic ramifications for new homeowners or homeowners adding onto their houses.
Currently, every homeowner pays the county a one-time impact fee of $3,500. The money is earmarked for school construction.
However, if impact fees become based on the number of bedrooms in a home—the current option being discussed—the costs could increase significantly. The fee also would include additions and improvements made to an existing home.
A three-bedroom home would carry an impact fee of $8,000. A four-bedroom home would rack up a $14,000 impact fee.
William Crawford, a Pittsboro mayoral candidate, did not attend last night's meeting, but he says impact fees are really just taxes, and should be avoided unless there is no alternative.
“I'd want to discuss all available options first,” he said.
County Commissioner George Lucier argues that the county needs to find a way to pay for construction of schools. He says there is no immediate need for the impact fees, but one year from now there must be “some mechanism in place to pay our debt.”
Lucier attempted to appease residents by saying that the impact fee hike had not been proposed as the final solution at this point.
Pittsboro Mayor Randy Voller, who seeking reelection for a third-term, did not attend the meeting. He told the Indy that “The commissioners are moving forward on the impact discussion, because they have had studies done that show the fees we already have are too low to actually cover the costs of our schools.”
Voller added that the Homebuilder's Association, National Association of Realtors, political leadership and citizens need to come together and discuss ways to create a “collaborative rational process” to fund long term investments like good schools.
- To create paragraphs in your comment, type <p> at the start of a paragraph and </p> at the end of each paragraph.
- To create bold text, type <b>bolded text</b> (please note the closing tag, </b>).
- To create italicized text, type <i>italicized text</i> (please note the closing tag, </i>).
- Proper web addresses will automatically become links.
Latest in Triangulator
-
EPA to hold public meeting tonight about water contamination in Wake Forest
EPA to hold meeting tonight about water contamination in Wake Forest
- May 21, 2013
-
New AFL-CIO report evaluates worker health and safety
According to the report, 148 workers were killed on the job in North Carolina in 2011, a rate slightly higher than the national average.
- May 20, 2013
-
Indeed, Cardinal Innovations receives federal funding
The news confirms the agency is subject to a federal investigation into discrimination against the undocumented community.
- May 15, 2013
- More »
More by Lisa Sorg
-
Tree trivia
Do you know what a Crotch Cut is? Consult this handy trivia guide and impress your friends with your esoteric knowledge of trees and their terminology.
- Mar 20, 2013
-
Famous Durhamites you'll rarely see in public
If you're determined to spot a local star, here's where you might (or might not) find a few.
- May 8, 2013
- More »
