Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/119978
Sarasota News Leader April 5, 2013 The collections for the City of Sarasota were up about 158 percent over projections — $128,897 compared to the budgeted amount of $50,000. Page 25 Supporters have cited the bill as a means of encouraging infill development in cities. House Bill 321, sponsored by Rep. Mike La Rosa, R-St. Cloud, was on the schedule for Conversely, the road impact fees for north an April 3 hearing in the Finance & Tax Subcounty came in below expectations — committee. A companion bill in the Senate, $402,006 compared to the budgeted amount SB 1716, won unanimous approval on April 2 in the Senate Community Affairs Committee. of $684,000. Among the other impact fee collections, the Barbetta sees merit in the legislation, though he said he had not had the opportunity to report shows the following data: check with staff to learn how the bills in the • Park impact fees totaled $1,390,754, com- Legislature might affect Sarasota County. pared to the budgeted amount of $654,915, Nonetheless, he said, "I think we need to start almost 53 percent higher. looking at zones" for construction where no • Library impact fees came in at $390,258, future road development would be possible. while the budget projection was $187,481. For example, the new restaurant on the • EMS impact fees totaled $134,871, com- ground floor of the Palm Avenue parking garage in downtown Sarasota — Louies Modpared to the budget amount of $68,307. ern, which formally opened April 3 — had to • Fire/rescue impact fee revenues came in at pay $95,000 in impact fees, he said. However, he pointed out, no changes would ever be ex$167,453, while $132,922 was budgeted. pected for Palm Avenue. "Things definitely have picked up," Barbetta told the News Leader, referring to construc- "People walk to that restaurant, and the garage is already there," he added. Likewise, tion. a new business opening on Bee Ridge Road Patterson said, "The construction industry's would have to pay a road impact fee when it coming back a little bit," but the impact fee would be relying on current traffic for customrevenue falls short of what the county had ex- ers, with no expansion for that road on the pected by this point. She also noted that even horizon, he continued. at their full level, the impact fees cover only a The county still will benefit from property and portion of the county's expense for new roads. sales taxes from those businesses, he added. STATE ACTION In the meantime, Robinson and Barbetta both Barbetta and Patterson this week also pointed say they are looking forward to a presentation to action in the Florida Legislature that would on the new impact fee data. suspend for three years the road impact fees Robinson praised Paul, saying, "He'll tell you and concurrency charges for commercial de- how it is. He seems to give you factual information as opposed to opinion." % velopments smaller than 6,000 square feet.