Impact fees takes center stage at Manatee Tiger Bay Club

BRADENTON -- With an increase in county impact fees and the reinstatement of school impact fees, speakers at the Manatee Tiger Bay Club luncheon came together Thursday to discuss whether the fees collected on newly built and purchased homes in the county are fair revenue generators or affordable housing killers.

The answer to that question, local lawyer Mark Barnebey said, is yes.

"It is both," he said during the luncheon, which drew more than 85 elected officials, builders and community members into Pier 22.

The topic of impact fees generated one of the largest crowds in recent memory, Manatee Tiger Bay Club President Ben Bakker said. Introducing the topic and the speakers, Bakker said Manatee County and Bradenton are a slice of paradise. The secret got out, driving an increase in growth and an increase in the need for new roads, infrastructure, parks and schools to accommodate it.

"Certainly nothing is free," Bakker said. "This is a pretty fine line to dance around."

Barnebey was joined by Manatee County School District Superintendent Diana Greene, Medallion Home President Peter Logan and attorney Morgan

Bentley.

With plans for new schools in the northern part of the county, which will be partially funded by impact fees, Greene took the majority of the questions during the session. She stressed impact fees are not the sole answer but would play a part in a larger plan.

"We are finding the balance," Greene said. "Impact fees are needed and they play a role."

Greene also said it was important for the district to have voters approve the extension of a current half-cent sales tax, which sunsets at the end of 2017, to help fulfill district needs. While impact fees can only help support new building or new growth, the sales tax can also help improve existing schools, which Greene said is also a priority.

"Every student deserves a high-quality education and their ZIP code should not determine how high quality that education is," she said.

From his perspective, impact fees aren't all that bad but "the devil is in the details," Bentley said, as it's hard to strike the balance to make sure impact fees are equitable and will actually be used to support growth created by a new development.

"You paint with a broad brush with impact fees and oftentimes, you miss the target," he said.

Logan said impact fees are selective and are a punitive tax, adding only 9 percent of home sales in Manatee County are of new homes. Existing homes are not subject to impact fees, and Logan said it's hard to argue people coming in from Ohio, New York and other states are creating growth by buying an existing home. He also said it can be unfair to charge an impact fee on those already in Manatee County, who aren't necessarily adding to the growth, but want to buy a new home.

"There's no equality in this structure," he said.

Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter @MeghinDelaney.

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 11:28 PM with the headline "Impact fees takes center stage at Manatee Tiger Bay Club ."