CALIFORNIA: Impact fees are the issue of the day for South Carolina cities, towns and counties. In the Charlotte region, three entities are talking about enacting the fees that would be assessed on residential and commercial projects.On the average single-family house, which sells for about $377,000 in Fort Mill, developers will pay $1,812 in impact fees.
A 100-room motel would pay more than $19,700 but would save almost $10,000 in reduced city fees for a net fee of about $10,000 to build in the town, according to Joe Cronin, Fort Mill planning director.The county councils of York and Lancaster counties are in early stages of discussions about imposing impact fees as a way to have growth pay for growth.Proponents say the fees are a better alternative to raising property taxes and other fees to require that existing residents pay for the growth.
The town of Fort Mill is leading the way.The Fort Mill Town Council (FMTC) voted this morning to impose impact fees on all development beginning Oct. 1.Both the York County Regional Chamber and the Fort Mill school board have come out against impact fees.
I asked Danny Funderburk, mayor of Fort Mill, some questions about his thinking, as impact fees become a major issue in the South Carolina counties in the Charlotte region.A little over two months ago, the U.S. Census Bureau released its population estimates for municipalities.
