Boone County Board indefinitely suspends land‑cash impact fees after public hearing

The Boone County Board voted Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, to suspend collection of land‑cash impact fees for new development indefinitely, approving an amendment after a public hearing and nearly two hours of discussion.

Proponents of suspending the fees said the move is intended to attract residential development and increase the county's long‑term tax base; opponents and agency representatives warned the fees pay for capital projects and urged a stakeholder review before any permanent change.

The decision follows public testimony and comments from developers, conservation and parks officials, and the Belvidere Community School District. Neely Erickson, a 30‑year Boone County resident, told the board the county's comprehensive plan shows vacant platted residential land and that local roads and school enrollment do not indicate a capacity problem. "Boone County needs policies that encourage, not discourage development," Erickson said during the hearing.

Josh Sage, executive director of the Boone County Conservation District, asked the board to consider a one‑year moratorium and to convene a working group of stakeholders to assess the ordinance and recommend next steps. "Regardless of whether the board chooses a 1 or 2 year moratorium, I strongly encourage the creation of a working group to bring all stakeholders together," Sage said.

Cassandra Schag, superintendent of Belvidere Community School District 100, told the board the district supports a one‑year moratorium to allow stakeholders to determine what would trigger resuming fees. "Impact fees are a critical tool... when that growth continues," Schag said, explaining the district uses fee revenue for capital items such as playgrounds and parking lots rather than operations.

Jen Jackie, executive director of the Belvidere Park District, described recent projects funded with land or cash contributions, including an accessible playground and an outdoor movie screen, and said impact fees can cover capital improvements such as parking and playgrounds that support tournaments and local activity.

Board debate focused on two goals: encouraging new housing supply to expand the tax base, and preserving a mechanism for funding future capital needs. Several board members argued that with current, flat enrollment and vacant platted lots countywide, suspending fees would remove an upfront cost that can deter builders and buyers. Marion Thornberry questioned whether removing the fees would lower home prices, saying, "So by doing away with them, how are we gonna bring the cost of housing down?" Board members responded that the suspension is intended to increase housing inventory and attract builders.

The initial motion to approve "ordinance 25‑0 for moratorium on impact fees" was made by County Board member Brian Curry and seconded by County Board member Brian Schneider. During debate, County Board member Alyssa Patterson offered an amendment to suspend collection of cash contributions for building permits and land‑cash for new development "indefinitely"; that amendment was seconded and approved by voice vote. The motion as amended carried by voice vote.

The board directed staff to preserve the ordinance language in the unified development ordinance (UDO) so the county can reactivate fees in the future if conditions change. Several members asked staff to request annual updates from the school district, park district and conservation district on enrollment, capital needs and impacts so the board can reevaluate the suspension if growth resumes.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 25‑0 (moratorium on impact fees): motion to approve made by Brian Curry; amendment to suspend indefinitely moved by Alyssa Patterson and seconded; motion as amended passed by voice vote (no roll‑call tally recorded). Notes: ordinance text to remain in UDO; staff to request annual reports from affected agencies.

- Resolution 25‑11 (sale of surplus property, parcel 03‑27‑477‑012): approved (motion carries; roll call recorded at time of vote).

- Replat RPDash01‑2025129 Pembroke Road Southwest: approved by voice vote.

- Boone County APA transition plan: approved as presented.

- Region 1 Planning Council draft Boone County Traffic Safety Action Plan: received and 30‑day public comment period opened.

- Purchase of a Unit Carriers Alpha Foxtrot 50 forklift from Equipment Depot, $32,903.22: approved (roll call recorded).

- Claims totaling $727,508.86: approved; Carl Johnson abstained on claims from specific vendors and departments as recorded.

- Builders risk insurance from Gallagher for the Boone County Courthouse project, $61,641: approved (roll call recorded).

- Low bid award to Right Side Up (amount as read into record): approved (roll call recorded).

What the suspension means and next steps

Board members emphasized the suspension is not the permanent removal of the ordinance but a pause in fee collection to encourage development and let stakeholders craft criteria for future use. Staff said the ordinance language will remain in the draft UDO and the county will keep the framework available, enabling the board to reinstate fees if and when growth indicators (for example, sustained enrollment increases or large subdivision proposals) demonstrate a need.

Officials representing the school district, park district and conservation district were invited to join stakeholder discussions and to provide periodic reports so the board can monitor capital needs and development activity.

Background and public testimony highlights

During public comment, Neely Erickson cited sections of the Boone County comprehensive plan and the county's transportation data to argue existing infrastructure can support more development; Erickson also referenced state statute language that, she said, sets standards for impact‑fee design. Josh Sage urged formation of a working group to evaluate the ordinance. The superintendent and park and conservation district leaders described ways fee revenue has been used for capital projects.

The board completed several other routine and project‑specific votes during the same meeting, including procurement, claims and planning items.

Ending

With the suspension in place, the board signaled a preference to prioritize increasing housing supply and to keep a formal mechanism available to address capital impacts if measurable growth resumes. The county will accept public comment on related planning documents as scheduled and staff will return to the board with updates as agencies provide them.