Board transmits annual impact-fee capital improvement element report amid discussion over road funding

The Newton County Board of Commissioners voted March 18 to transmit the county’s annual Capital Improvement Element (CIE) short-term work program — the routine report tied to the county’s impact-fee program — to the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission for review and DCA processing.

Staff said the annual report lists impact-fee-eligible projects by department, highlights completed projects in green and shows new departments added this year that can receive impact fees (animal services, fire, libraries, parks and the sheriff’s office). The presentation included a financial summary indicating the county collected approximately $2,700,000 in impact fees for fiscal year 2024.

Commissioner Long and others pressed staff about how impact-fee revenues are allocated across departments and projects, noting roads are a major infrastructure pressure and asking whether funds could be moved toward road projects. Staff and county counsel explained that each impact-fee category is legally distinct: fees collected for a specific service (for example, libraries, fire or roads) are attributable only to that service and cannot be moved across categories without amending the impact-fee methodology. Staff said it is possible to amend future allocations but that changes require a separate methodology update.

Commissioners asked staff to reengage consultants and affected departments to review allocations and consider adjustments before the next annual update; staff said changes could be reflected in the next report if proposals are adopted in time. The board voted unanimously to transmit the current annual update for review per state requirements.