Winter Haven commission reviews consultant study proposing big increases to parks, fire and library impact fees; police fee set to fall

A consultant presented findings at a June 4 special workshop recommending that Winter Haven update municipal impact fees for parks and recreation, fire and library services to reflect recent growth and new capital projects. Joe Williams, a consultant with Raftelis, told the city commission the study follows state requirements and documents the approach, capital lists and calculations supporting new fee levels.

The study recommends raising the full package of municipal impact fees for new single-family homes from about $2,432 under the city's current schedule to roughly $5,820 if the commission adopts the consultant's full calculated fees, an increase of nearly $3,400. Williams said the recommendations rely on local fixed-asset listings, planned projects and projected growth of about 40% (approximately 10,000 new residential units) over the next 10 years.

The report assigns large upcoming park projects and new public safety facilities as primary drivers of the increases. Williams said the study identified roughly $84 million in parks-related capital planned over the next 10 years and about $10 million in new fire apparatus and additional…