York County approves first reading of Fort Mill School District impact fee despite community debate

York County Council approved first reading on March 3 of an ordinance to adopt impact fees for new residential development inside the Fort Mill School District. The ordinance would set maximum allowable impact fees at $29,640 for a single-family detached dwelling and $20,796 for a multifamily dwelling, and would authorize an intergovernmental agreement between York County and the Fort Mill School District governing collection and use of the fees under York County ordinance No. 27-18.

School district and consultant presentations: Fort Mill School District officials and consultants told council the fees are designed to pay for projected school capacity needs driven by ongoing enrollment growth. Leanne Lourdo, associate superintendent and CFO for Fort Mill School District, said the district previously secured an impact-fee program in 2018 and has since submitted substantial fee-funded reimbursement requests for recent school construction; she said the district has collected tens of millions in impact-fee revenue and aims…