Multiple residents have written in to Ocala-News.com about impact fees for new residents in response to another resident’s letter to the editor.
Marilyn Bradley, who says that houses are being “built and sold” quickly as people move to Ocala from around the country, believes new construction puts a strain on the community and environment.
“Municipalities assess impact fees on property developers to pay for infrastructure improvements that must be built due to new property development,” says Bradley. She believes that “new development brings new residents” that can put “strain on a city’s infrastructure and services, including schools, libraries, water and sewerage, police and fire protection services.”
“Impact fees are designed to offset the additional cost of maintaining these services” says Bradley.
“My neighbors and myself have owned our homes between 18 to 20 years. We all paid impact fees when we had our homes built, so why shouldn’t people coming in now pay fees?” asks Ocala resident David Cappas.
“I believe new residences should have to pay an impact fee. Many of us that have lived here forever have paid impact fees. More people, more businesses, and more traffic should bring us more and better roads,” says Sharon Hanrahan of Ocala.
The city of Ocala collects impact fees on newly constructed residences on behalf of the school board. For the past 10 years, those impact fees have been suspended.
Do you have an opinion on impact fees that you would like to share? Write a letter to the editor or comment below.