Earlier this year, the City Commission approved increases to water and wastewater impact fees, which are set to go into effect Thursday, July 1. Due to newly passed state legislation, which caps impact fee increases, the city is required to host two public workshops to explain the data used to justify the increases that will be higher than what is allowed if the legislation is approved.
The public workshops are at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 17, and at 9:30 a.m. Friday, June 18, in conference room 149 at City Hall.
Under the state legislation, which was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on June 4, impact fees can’t be raised more than 12.5% in a given year and no more than 50% over a four-year period. There is a provision in the law, which allows local governments to show “extraordinary circumstances” that merit a greater increase.
A resolution confirming the impact fee increases will be presented to the City Commission at their July 8 meeting.
Prior to the City Commission’s approval to increase water and sewer impact fees in February, the fees had not been evaluated or increased more than the annual Consumer Price Index in 39 years. The recommended increases of 14% to water impact fees and 40% to sewer impact fees were based on a comprehensive water and wastewater rate study by Raftelis Financial Consultants.