Impact Fees: A Method of Paying for Growth in Florida

Abstract

Focuses on impact fee adoption as a means of financing growth in an increasing number of Florida communities. The discussion includes the types of impact fees, their multiple uses, the extent to which they have increased in number, and subsequent increases in costs to residents of new development. Concluding observations offer an analysis on the interplay of economic and political variables that may help to explain the present status of impact fees in Florida and their probable continued growth in Florida localities. While impact fees may be revenue enhancement mechanisms, they also raise serious policy making questions, the answers to which will depend on local political and economic circumstances.