Impact Fees for Schools

A Resolution on Impact Fees for Schools

WHEREAS, the concept of development impact fees is based on the equity of having growth and development pay its way by funding certain public facilities necessitated by such development and growth; and

WHEREAS, without a system of impact fees, existing residents of a community bear a disproportionate burden for cost of growth and development through increased property taxes; and

WHEREAS, the cost of building infrastructure to serve new growth can be very expensive; and

WHEREAS, unlike many other states, Georgia’s system of impact fees does not include schools as an authorized category of expenditure; and WHEREAS, the metro Atlanta region will grow by an estimated 2.3 million residents by 2030; and

WHEREAS, the growth in overall population will be accompanied by a substantial growth in the student population of metro schools; and

WHEREAS, the need for new school construction and renovation to accommodate this growth will impact local infrastructure costs;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Metro Atlanta Mayors Association supports appropriate legislation to provide cities and counties authority to levy and collect impact fees for infrastructure to serve burgeoning school populations and associated infrastructure demands. The revenue should remain with the jurisdiction impacted by growth.

Approved September 30, 2004