Recently, there have been questions regarding the Monroe County Board of Commissioners’ decision to explore and design an impact fee program for our county. Capital improvement elements have been analyzed, chosen and submitted to the Middle Georgia Regional Commission and the state of Georgia for approval along with values applied to each element. First, a brief explanation: An impact fee is a tool state legislature set up and designed. It allows counties in a growth and expansion environment to collect funds on new growth to pay for expanding services. The fee is only on new growth and is used to allow services to continue to meet the demand that an increase in population and activity bring. To bring the public fully up-to-speed on impact fees, a Question-and-Answer format has been developed below.
- So what are these capital improvement elements all about?
Capital improvement elements are the services the county provides that will be considered with regard to impact fees. These are fire/EMS, sheriff, roads, recreation, library, and animal control services.
- So why not water and solid waste?
The impact fee for water is already being covered or collected in the form of tap-on fees. Since this fee is currently being paid, there is no reason to include it as an element. When defining and setting policy for impact fees, the legislature did not include solid waste as a potential element eligible for impact fees. Therefore it is not included.
- Why should I not see this as just another tax?
There are taxes and there are fees. Taxes are based on value. Property tax is based on value of property whether it be homes, land, vehicles, improvements. Sales tax is based on the value of the product purchased. There is no direct relationship between the taxes paid and the return. For example, one may have 10 kids in school or none in school, but the taxes are figured on value of a product, not the actual service provided. Fees, however, are based on a specific set of services anticipated to be received.
- What are those services?
The capital improvement elements listed previously. It is anticipated that if one moves into our county, they will increase the cost for fire service, having an ambulance available, having adequate police protection, road maintenance, kids using the recreational services, and the availability of our library.
- So I’m already paying for these services through my property tax?
You are correct. You have paid taxes to create and maintain these services along with the 28,000 neighbors who call Monroe County home. But when 2,000 more people are added to the population, those services must be increased to accommodate them. You have paid and still pay taxes to maintain these services but when population increases force these services to expand, it would be nice if the new members of the county kick in some money to “pay their own way.” That’s the impact fee.
- Who pays the fee?
The fee is collected at the time the building permit is issued. Only the people doing the new building will be paying the fee. Not those of us who have been here and have helped establish these services.
- But don’t their property taxes cover that cost?
Not usually. By the time Homestead Exemption and other exemptions are applied, the taxes paid by residential property does not pay for the services provided. While this is not always the case, generally residential growth must be supplemented by commercial and industrial growth to pay the bills.
- I don’t want Monroe County to grow. It’s great like it is. Why do we have to grow?
We do have a great community. As a resident, business owner, and commissioner, I feel fortunate to be here with the current size and population. Many people outside of our community want that same thing so they move here and bring kids, jobs, traffic, a need for a place to shop, to worship, and play. Local government is working to manage the impact of this increased demand so we can continue to feel so fortunate.
We as commissioners don’t claim to have all the answers to impact fees. We do feel it is an opportunity to have the new growth coming to Monroe County, AND IT IS COMING, to help pay their fair share of what we as a community have built. We don’t ask for full support nor do we feel we should look at impact fees as a pure negative. In this movement towards making a final decision on this important issue, we should carefully study, learn and decide if this is best for our county. As your commissioners, we commit to doing our best to make the decision that is most beneficial for the citizens of this county.
Please let us know how you feel about impact fees either by commenting below the post regarding impact fees on our Facebook page or by attending the first public hearing on impact fees at our next Board meeting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15.
