Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/83745
FEELING THE IMPACT The Sarasota County Commission prepares for a meeting in the Think Tank in the Administration Center on Ringling Boulevard in Sarasota. Photo by Norman Schimmel COUNTY COMMISSION AUTHORIZES NEW STUDY ON CALCULATING IMPACT FEES, USING THE MOST RECENT COST DATA AVAILABLE; SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES ANOTHER TWO-YEAR MORATORIUM By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor Voicing frustration that Sarasota County has been using impact fee data that is as much as eight years old, the County Com- mission on Sept. 18 voted unanimously to authorize staff to update the methodology for calculating the impact fees, using the most recent cost data available. The motion also calls for staff to work with construction trade organizations in under- taking that work. The vote came just a few hours after mem- bers of the Sarasota County School Board agreed by consensus during their monthly workshop to ask the County Commission to maintain the moratorium on the collection of education impact fees for two more years. As a point of clarification, School Board member Carol Todd pointed out that while that board makes a recommendation on ac- tion regarding those fees, the County Com- mission is the local government body that decides on the action. The moratorium on the school impact fees is set to expire Dec. 14, according to a staff presentation to the County Commission.