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Impact-fee study recommends substantial increase; district delays implementation to consult developers and county partners
Summary
A consultant study recommends nearly a threefold increase in Miami‑Dade school impact fees (last updated in 1996). District staff will delay a February school-board submission to continue outreach with developers and county offices and plans to present a unified recommendation in April.
A consultant’s educational facilities impact-fee study recommending a large increase to Miami‑Dade’s school impact fee was presented to the Audit and Budget Advisory Committee on Feb. 4; staff said they will continue outreach with building developers and county partners and bring a unified recommendation to the school board in April.
"We provided an update memo. It included the draft report provided by the consultant regarding the educational facilities impact fee study," Raul Perez, district staff, told ABAC and said the developer community expressed concerns about affordability and distribution. Perez said the study’s recommendation would represent the first major adjustment since 1996 and "for the most part, the study is the study" though implementation timing and the actual rate could be adjusted.
The nut graf: the study’s draft recommends raising the prevailing fee substantially (the presentation cited an example where an 800-square-foot unit’s impact fee would increase from roughly $1,200 to about $3,800). Staff said they will hold additional conversations with the Building Industry Association and the Latin Builders Association before drafting a final recommendation.
Legal context and next steps were explained to the committee. County and state law govern impact-fee adoption and the interlocal agreement between the school district and county. Legal counsel noted that increases over 50% would require a two-thirds vote of the county commission, while smaller increases require a majority vote. Perez said the district and county plan to work toward a joint recommendation in March and bring a unified implementation proposal to the school board in April, followed by the Board of County Commissioners.
"This fee had never been adjusted since 1996," Perez said. "The consultant is recommending almost a threefold increase in the fee." Committee members pressed for clarity on who represents the development community; Perez said the district is working directly with the Builders Association of South Florida and the Latin Builders Association.
Board members also discussed whether the district should set a specific frequency for periodic reappraisal of the fee; several members urged embedding a review rhythm (for example every four years) in the recommendation, and staff said such a frequency could be included in the final recommendation and in the interlocal agreement or ordinance.
Ending: Perez said district staff would take developer feedback into account, work with county counsel and the consultant, and present a joint recommendation to the school board in April.
