Raise the rates!

Based on the above headline story in today’s Express-Times, it is obvious that rates charged to builders are too low and should be raised right now! The growth in our area and most especially in our town is not slowing down. It appears as though the housing bubble has not, nor will it burst here.

About a year ago, the Board of Supervisors raised the fees by a few hundred dollars. The time has arrived to charge substantially more money as obviously the supply and demand equation is in our favor. Some might argue-

1. The fees are passed on to the new homeowners. Who cares as long as we get the money needed to support our infrastructure, municipal and emergency services to name just a few needs.
2. That most of the projects have been approved so no substantial money will be raised. It is our opinion that whatever additional money can be garnered from the residential developers should be, whether it involves 40 or 40,000 homes.

As for the fees themselves, are the ones currently being charged fully compliant with the law? Despite public outcry, traffic impact fees were eliminated many years ago. Two of the Supervisors (David Hoff and Don Miller) who voted to eliminate those fees still serve on the Board today. Why do other towns in our area charge traffic impact fees and we do not?

Like always, many more questions than answers!