I think we might look at some pros and cons and begin a neighborhood discussion. Impact fees are assessed on new developments which significantly change the nature and intensity of the land use. They shift some of the burden of paying for the construction of public facilities generated by growth from existing development to new development. Public facility improvements include roads, parks, and schools needed to support new development. Public support for traditional revenue sources such as increased property and excise taxes is declining, and many local governments are looking elsewhere for alternative sources.
Impact fees provide such an alternative.
Ensure that those public facilities and services necessary to support development shall be adequate to serve the development at the time the development is available for occupancy and use without decreasing current service levels below locally established minimum standards. The origin of impact fees goes back to the 1920s in the State of Washington. It came with the advent of zoning and subdivision regulations. When growth rates were relatively small and growth was spread throughout the country, local governments experienced little or no trouble in providing the needed capital facilities. Impact fees may be collected and spent only for public streets and roads, publicly owned parks, open space, and recreational facilities, school facilities, and fire protection facilities.