Pasco County Commisioners to Vote on Impact Fee Cuts Today

When the Pasco County Commission opens its meeting for public hearings at 1:30 p.m. today, school impact fees are scheduled to be the first topic of discussion.

The commission has floated a controversial idea to reduce impact fees for schools by as much as 50 percent until December 31, 2012. The move is hoped to help reignite building interest in Pasco while serving to bolster the economy.

Right now, Pasco County charges residential developers about $5,000 in fees for every single family home built. The school district uses this money to fund construction of new schools to meet the demands of growth. Impact fees can also be used to pay bond debt, school officials have said.

School district officials, teachers and others have spoken out against the measure, saying the loss of income could be detrimental at a time when Pasco schools stand to lose about $60 million in funding. The school board even imploring county commissioners to reconsider the measure.

When the to move forward with the April 19 public hearing, School Superintendent Heather Fiorentino was “disappointed.”

“I always thought education was the cornerstone of any community and that’s what truly brings in business,” she said.

Joanne Hurley, the school board’s chairwoman, had similar sentiments. The loss of funding this year leaves the district in a position where it is going to have to start laying off employees, she said.

“We’re desperate not to lay off school board employees, but with 67,000 students, every dollar counts,” she said. “Really, it’s the perfect storm. We’re losing federal stimulus (funding), state level (funds). For us, it’s dealing with the sum total.”

If impact fees remain in place, the school district anticipates receiving about $4.5 million this year. District officials say the money is needed to help cover an annual $16.8 million bond payment. Without impact fee funding, this money may need to come out of the district’s general fund, which pays for teacher salaries and other operational expenses.

While county commissioners have said they understand the school district’s predicament, they feel a reduction in impact fees will bolster the local economy. This, they have said, can only benefit the school district.

“We’re trying to stimulate the economy,” said Commissioner Jack Mariano, following the April 5 vote.

If commissioners pass the ordinance following today’s 1:30 p.m. public hearing, impact fee reductions will be retroactive to March 1. The reduction in funding will last through 2012.

Today’s meeting takes place at the West Pasco Government Center, 7530 Little Road, in New Port Richey. Area residents may attend and voice their opinions on the issue.