Chiefs of the Southern Manatee Fire and Rescue District intend to recommend Wednesday at least doubling the impact fees imposed on construction to help pay for fire stations and equipment.
Exact fees to be proposed to the district's five commissioners are not set yet, but the amounts will be at least twice the current levels, which were set in 1992, Assistant Chief J.R. Thayer said Monday.
Raising impact fees will enable the fire district to collect more money without increasing the property tax rate of 80 cents per $1,000 taxable value in the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, he said.
The fire district now receives about $175,000 of impact fees per year, he said.
"The cost of everything is going up, but it's been 12 years since we've raised impact fees," Thayer said. "Our big thing is we want new growth to pay for the new stations, the new administration building and the new apparatus that are needed because of the growth."
Current impact fees are $150 per residence, $40 per lot or space in recreational vehicle and trailer parks and $310 per commercial or industrial structure plus 8 cents per square foot above 5,000 square feet.
Thayer said he and Chief Tom Hennessy plan to recommend more than $400 but less than $500 per residence and more than $80 but less than $125 per lot or space in recreational vehicle and trailer parks.
Recommendations for commercial and industrial buildings will be more than $600 but less than $980 per structure as a base price with a supplement of more than 15 cents but less than 25 cents per square foot above 5,000 square feet, he said.
"We did a survey of what everyone else is charging, and we don't want to charge more than everyone," Thayer said. "You can rest assured we won't go higher than Braden River. We don't want to set a precedent."
Southern Manatee's proposed impact fees would be second highest among fire districts in Manatee County, trailing only Braden River, if fire commissioners approve the increases, Thayer said. Current Southern Manatee fees rank tied for fourth among six fire districts surveyed, he said.
Commissioners will hold a public hearing about raising impact fees at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Fire Station 1 at 1640 60th Ave. Drive E. They may vote later that night whether to raise the fees.
Gov. Jeb Bush last month signed into law the legislation allowing Southern Manatee commissioners to raise their impact fees, ending a two-year lobbying effort by fire district leaders. The law sets no cap on fees, but states the amounts must be "just, reasonable and equitable."
At that time, state Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, urged fire commissioners to be careful about how much they raise the fees.
Bennett said Monday that the ranges Thayer cited seem reasonable considering that fees have not changed in 12 years.
"It sounds to me like they are exercising caution," Bennett said. "I don't have any problem with what they are doing.
"They've had unbelievable growth out there," Bennett said. "I don't think any of us can go 12 years without having a price increase."
Southern Manatee boundaries generally are bordered by First Street on the west, city of Bradenton limits on the north, Braden River on the east and University Parkway on the south.
Britt Williams, president of the Home Builders Association of Manatee County, said he did not know whether large fee increases are justified.
"Without understanding their costs and operating expenses, I don't really know that I have a good perspective," Williams said. "We are concerned, as an association, about how we handle growth in the county. We're also concerned there is no cap on the bill signed by the governor. And we're opposed fundamentally to impact fees in that they are not a broad-based funding source."
Williams said he expects an association representative to attend the fire commission's public hearing.
"We plan to be at the meeting to hear and potentially participate in the discussion," Williams said. Fire commissioners will hold a public hearing about raising impact fees at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Fire Station No. 1 at 1640 60th Ave. Drive E. They may vote later Wednesday night on whether to raise the fees.
