Wakulla County School Impact Fee

[gatoremt]

I am not sure I would want to build a new house now in Wakulla County. Maybe I just dont understand. Maybe this happens in all countys.

Impact Fee

From WCTV website

"School Impact Fee in Wakulla Reporter: Valerie Lacy

1-17-07

If you want to build a new home in Wakulla County, be prepared to dig deep into your pockets. Last night Wakulla County commissioners unanimously passed a school impact fee worth $6,000.

if (self['plpm'] && plpm['Mid-Story Ad']) document.write('');if (self['plpm'] && plpm['Mid-Story Ad']){ document.write(plpm['Mid-Story Ad']);} else { if(self['plurp'] && plurp['97']){} else {document.write(''); } }if (self['plpm'] && plpm['Mid-Story Ad']) document.write('');Current residents need not worry. The fee will only apply to buyers of newly built homes, but builders are concerned. They say this will hit the affordable housing market the hardest.

Jay Culley, Southern Homes Director, said, "It's, well, it's huge. It makes a difference in someone buying or not buying. I mean, they certainly can't afford it. It will be huge in the smaller market."

The county is planning another impact fee which some say could raise the cost of a new home by twelve thousand dollars.

George Green, Wakulla County Commissioner, says the school impact fee will be phased in over the next few years."

[celebrated]

Impact fees are quite common around the state for new construction. We moved here from Osceola county in central Florida where the impact fee is now $10K. In neighboring Orange County (Orlando) it is $12K. That is total impact fee including schools, parks, roads, etc.

I should also mention the builder pays the fee so it is already built into the price of a new home if you are shopping around.

[cityboy05]

I don't understand. I mean what's the point in impact fees besides higher prices for brand new houses. Is it a way to control growth? I don't think I would like to build a home in Wakulla either.

[gatoremt]

I was wondering. They talked to people in Wakulla Cty on the news and they were just worried about the prices of the houses going up.

[Florida]

I don't understand. I mean what's the point in impact fees besides higher prices for brand new houses. Is it a way to control growth? I don't think I would like to build a home in Wakulla either.

[celebrated]

My question is, is the $6 or 8 thousand dollars they speak of an across the board tax or does it vary according to the value of the property. It would seem more reasonable to make this fee a percentage on the value of the property.

[Florida]

Typically it is a flat fee and not proportional to the cost of the home. The idea being a family of 4 living in a $100K house has the same impact on schools and roads as a family of 4 living in a $500K house.