Is it a ‘York County home tax or fee’? Debate heats up ahead of public hearing
The
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A new home in
"We always hear that growth doesn't pay for itself," Nix told Council. "We already showed, that's a surplus of money coming to the county for every house."
The
School board member
Frattaroli pointed to keepourschoolsstrong.org, a resident-organized committee -- formed to promote the spring school bond referendum -- that now posts information about school impact fees.
Math sense
New residences within
A recent study commissioned by the county -- which is considering at a separate, countywide impact fee -- found the school fee needed could be close to
According to the
"In a market desperately short on inventory," the Piedmont Realtors site states, "impact fees will hurt first-time home buyers. And that's just the tip of the iceberg."
The "Stop the York County Home Tax" flier states the county is looking at a 760 percent increase. If the home fee increased to the max amount allowed by law, it would be an nearly 630 percent increase. The higher figure comes from the fee being rolled into a 30-year loan at a 4.5 percent interest rate.
Both sides agree the added cost will be transferred from builder to homeowner through sales pricing.
According to the Realtor group's flier, a
In a "Myths vs. Facts" sheet on the school district site, however, there are other costs to consider.
"Current homeowners could actually see a reduction in taxes paid through debt service millage, depending on the fee amount implemented," it states.
Just the facts
The "Stop the York County Home Tax" flier doesn't mention
Fact: The only impact fee increase with a proposed dollar amount and the one argued against in the flier applies only to construction in
Existing development impact fees in
The flier also calls the pending payment change a tax, which by definition is a bit tricky.
Fact: By definition, a tax is imposed by a governing body while a fee can be voluntary, such as a one-time tax on construction. But the money technically is paid for by the builder during construction permitting, making it a fee rather than a tax, according to state laws.
State law defines the charge as an impact fee as a "payment of money imposed as a condition of development approval to pay a proportionate share of the cost of system improvements needed to serve the people utilizing the improvements."
"Generally speaking, it's basically whatever that particular statute refers to it as, whether it's a fee or a tax," she said.
While the words "tax" and "fee" may carry different connotations, the costs will work out the same way.
She hears concerns from both sides. Looking at the average new construction in the
"I do not believe that an increase in impact fees is going to stop the growth that's happening," she said.
Want to go?
The public hearing on the impact fee for the
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