2/18/2020 Hernando officials agree to new study of impact fees

https://www.tampabay.com/news/hernando/2020/02/17/hernando-officials-agree-to-new-study-of-impact-fees/ 1/9

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

NEWS / HERNANDO

Hernando o�cials agree tonew study of impact feesCounty administrator says the county has a $79 millionde�cit for needed capital projects.

Artist's rendering of the proposed new Hernando County government center which could be built at the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport. [Hernando County]

Log in

By using this site, you agree to ourupdated Privacy Policy and ourTerms of Use.

https://www.tampabay.com/newshttps://www.tampabay.com/news/hernandohttps://www.tampabay.com/author/barbara-behrendthttps://www.tampabay.com/https://tampabay.com/privacy/https://tampabay.com/universal/user_agreement.shtml

2/18/2020 Hernando officials agree to new study of impact fees

https://www.tampabay.com/news/hernando/2020/02/17/hernando-officials-agree-to-new-study-of-impact-fees/ 2/9

By Barbara Behrendt

Published Yesterday

BROOKSVILLE — Hernando County staff members suggested this monththat they update the county’s impact fee ordinance to make sure Hernandocan justify the fees it charges for new construction. Commissioner SteveChampion questioned that.

The county approved a higher impact fee for schools several months ago, hesaid, and agreed to relook its transportation impact fees. Was this furtherstudy of other fees really needed?

The county has been getting by with existing fees to pay for governmentbuildings, libraries, law enforcement, the county jail, fire services and parks,Champion said. Impact fees are dedicated monies charged to newconstruction for projects needed because of growth.

"We’re in pretty good shape for the funds,'' he said.

That’s when County Administrator Jeff Rogers spoke up.

He reminded commissioners of the county’s $88.8 million capitalimprovement plan, a to-do list that includes $79 million more in projects thanexists in its impact fee coffers. Among the projects is the much-talked-aboutnew county government center being pitched for a location at the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport.

That project alone — which local judges have said for years they need formore courtrooms and office space — has a price tag of $43 million. Thecounty still needs $41.3 million of that.

Log in

By using this site, you agree to ourupdated Privacy Policy and ourTerms of Use.

https://www.tampabay.com/author/barbara-behrendthttps://www.tampabay.com/news/hernando/2019/12/18/hernando-commission-approves-higher-school-impact-fees/https://www.tampabay.com/https://tampabay.com/privacy/https://tampabay.com/universal/user_agreement.shtml

2/18/2020 Hernando officials agree to new study of impact fees

https://www.tampabay.com/news/hernando/2020/02/17/hernando-officials-agree-to-new-study-of-impact-fees/ 3/9

If impact fees monies aren’t available to pay for the projects, Rogers said, thecounty will have to find another funding source. It could increase propertytaxes, but commissioners last year increased the property tax rate by 14percent just to cover expenses.

County officials also have discussed seeking public approval of a sales taxincrease. But if they do, Rogers pointed out, those funds would not beavailable for immediate use. In a couple of months, Rogers added,commissioners will be talking about the needed emergency radio system, forwhich they have no funding.

"In the past, we’ve had these projects that we couldn’t fund so we just pushedthem out,'' he said. "The government center has been pushed out for a longtime.''

The other reason for an impact fee update is that state law requires that feesbe based on up-to-date, localized costs, explained Ron Pianta, the county’sdevelopment services director. The last impact fee study was done in 2012, hesaid, so Hernando is overdue for an update. The county’s own ordinancerequires an update at least every five years, and proposed state legislationmight require three-year intervals.

Growth patterns, rates and costs change over the years, officials pointed out.And making sure the costs reflected in the study are accurate is important toprotect the county from legal challenges, said county attorney Garth Coller.

Commissioners voted 3-2 to move forward with the new study; Champion andCommissioner Wayne Dukes voted no. The cost is $127,520 and would bepaid to Tindale-Oliver and Associates from the impact fee fund.

Commissioner John Allocco wasn’t happy with the prospect, but voted for thestudy.

"To me, it just seems outrageous to spend this money over and over and overagain,'' he said. "I’m just concerned it’s government proliferatinggovernment.''

Rogers showed commissioners the list of projects beyond the governmentcenter:

More than $4 million in improvements at Anderson Snow Park and a$400,000 splash park there

Log in

By using this site, you agree to ourupdated Privacy Policy and ourTerms of Use.

https://www.tampabay.com/hernando/hernando-county-commissioners-lean-toward-a-14-percent-property-tax-rate-increase-20190710/https://www.tampabay.com/https://tampabay.com/privacy/https://tampabay.com/universal/user_agreement.shtml

2/18/2020 Hernando officials agree to new study of impact fees

https://www.tampabay.com/news/hernando/2020/02/17/hernando-officials-agree-to-new-study-of-impact-fees/ 4/9

Two new fire stations, topping $3 million eachA $5.3 million fire administration and training building$14.5 million for the new emergency radio system

"We should fund these things or figure out how to phase them in or forgetthem,'' Rogers said.

BARBARA BEHRENDTHernando County Reporter

SHOW 1 COMMENT

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Prescribed burns scheduled in Hernando preserves

1 hour ago• Hernando

Cars have to drive in the right direction, so what about bikes?

Sign up for our Daystarter newsletterToday's top headlines and informationdelivered to your inbox every morning.

TYPE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS HERE

SIGN UP

Find all our newsletters

Log in

By using this site, you agree to ourupdated Privacy Policy and ourTerms of Use.

https://www.tampabay.com/author/barbara-behrendthttps://www.tampabay.com/news/hernando/2020/02/18/prescribed-burns-scheduled-in-hernando-preserves/https://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/2020/02/17/cars-have-to-drive-in-the-right-direction-so-what-about-bikes/https://myaccount.tampabay.com/newsletter/?returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tampabay.com%2Fnews%2Fhernando%2F2020%2F02%2F17%2Fhernando-officials-agree-to-new-study-of-impact-fees%2F%3FclearUserState%3Dtruehttps://www.tampabay.com/author/barbara-behrendthttps://www.tampabay.com/news/hernando/2020/02/18/prescribed-burns-scheduled-in-hernando-preserves/https://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/2020/02/17/cars-have-to-drive-in-the-right-direction-so-what-about-bikes/https://www.tampabay.com/https://tampabay.com/privacy/https://tampabay.com/universal/user_agreement.shtml