'Slowdown' halts impact fee talk

Hey, it’s Wednesday, so we’re going a little heavy on the government geek today. You’ve been warned.

Growth is slowing. Betcha didn’t know that. I didn’t either until Tuesday’s County Commission meeting.

The subject was raising impact fees to include right-of-way costs in the calculations. It was a surprise to commissioners in 2025 when they approved the latest impact fee bump to learn the calculations did not include the cost of buying property for road projects, and the County Commission told its consultant to come back with those numbers.

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Commissioners had the first of two workshops Tuesday to talk about it. Mighta been a little sticker shock in the room, as the single-family home impact fee would jump from $13,109 to $17,290. A 32% increase. Half this year, half next year.

The County Commission was able to raise impact fees last year due to "extraordinary" circumstances (government speak for “crazy growth”). That took a minimum of four yes votes. I don’t understand these rules, but all five must say yes with this next update.

And one didn’t. Commissioner Rebecca Bays said raising impact fees hurts local builders, suppliers, and subcontractors. In other words, it’ll slow growth that much.

The builders alliance and chamber of commerce said the same thing. From chamber president Josh Wooten: “We’re in a little bit of a slowdown now.”

These were the same arguments from the business community we’ve heard over the decades. Essentially: Higher impact fees drive up the cost of a new home so much it’ll turn off potential customers. Instead of buying in Citrus, they’ll look elsewhere. Our construction and service economy will tank because of it.

Look. I’m not arguing those points, OK? I’m not a builder, not in that line of work. The entire real estate market is volatile. These local folks also know our road capacity situation, so if they’re saying business will suffer with higher fees, that’s worth consideration.

There was no vote because this is only a workshop, but the consensus was to drop the impact fee boost. Frankly, I’m a little surprised that all happened without a little more discussion. Last I checked, the County Commission is looking under the seat cushions to pay for road needs.

— Now, this is where you thank me. I had a whole other point to make about Tuesday’s board meeting. It was all written out. Edited and re-edited. Very important stuff. And it bored me to death. 

I can’t do that to readers, and I sure won't do that to me. I’ll figure out a way to explain the issue without putting everyone in a trance.

So, we’re a little brief today. That’s cool.

Have a fun Wednesday, friends.

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