Commissioners Will Revisit Past Fees

After a year and a half, impact fees are on the minds of Cherokee County officials again.

In 2000, Cherokee became the first county in the state to impose the fees meant to offset the costs of building new schools, roads, sewers or other needed resources because of development. The gist is that growth creates the need for these projects and that taxpayers shouldn’t have to bear the burden.

But as growth slowed down with the economy, so did the amount of money coming into the county.

In July 2009, the County Commissioners cut the impact fees by 90 percent in an attempt at drawing development, jobs and businesses to the county.

But Tuesday night the issue will again be before the County Commissioners. It is mentioned as a discussion item, but Chairman Buzz Ahrens said the issue was discussed at the board’s annual retreat and said, “We’ll do something.”

Ahrens said the issue is whether to raise them again and by how much. It might mean starting at half of what they once were. He also mentioned maybe having a step process where it gradually increases.

“We want to give people fair notice,” Ahrens said.

But at the same time, the county needs to look at all avenues to raise revenue, he said. The county is expecting a $7 million shortfall in 2012.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the county’s government complex at 1130 Bluffs Pkwy. in Canton.