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St. Mary's commissioners form focus group, raise development impact fee $1,000
Summary
After public comment and weeks of debate, the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County directed staff to form a stakeholder focus group to reexamine Chapter 223 (development impact fees) and voted to raise the impact fee by $1,000 to $55,100 for fiscal 2018; commissioners also authorized limited consultant support if staff needs help.
The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County on April 25 directed staff to convene a stakeholder focus group to study Chapter 223 of the county code on development impact fees and set a reporting date for the work this fall, and they voted to increase the county’s residential development impact fee by $1,000 for fiscal 2018.
Finance staff told commissioners that about 100 people attended an April 4 public hearing and that the county had received extensive written comments, including a petition with more than 125 signatures. Jeanette Cudmore, chief financial officer, summarized public input and described a consultant estimate of roughly $100,000 to perform a comprehensive, outside impact‑fee study; she also said the county could issue an RFP and that internal and local expertise might reduce cost or delay.
Commission President Randy Guy moved to direct staff to organize a focus group of stakeholders to examine Chapter 223 and return recommendations. Commissioners amended the timetable: staff will convene the group and present findings by Dec. 1, 2017; the motion passed on a roll‑call vote with five yeses. Separately, commissioners voted to authorize the Department of Finance to solicit support services to assist the department and the focus group if staff workload requires outside help; the finance department noted it had roughly $30,000 budgeted for consultant assistance but that larger proposals could be considered with board approval.
After extended discussion about the size and pace of any fee increase, a motion to raise the residential development impact fee by $1,000 passed. The board set the fee at $55,100 for fiscal year 2018. Commissioners who spoke said they wanted a moderate step now and a more comprehensive review to follow so the county would not “shock” the housing market with a large, immediate jump. Several commissioners also warned that a full study could produce a substantially higher recommended fee and urged clear communication and grandfathering options for projects already permitted.
The motions taken at the meeting included formation of a locally led focus group (no outside consultant required by the motion), authorization for finance to solicit support services if needed, and the $1,000 fee increase. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized they were seeking a balanced approach that would capture more infrastructure funding from new development while trying to avoid abrupt market disruption. The focus group and any consultant work are intended to inform final ordinance language and any future fee schedule changes.
What happens next: staff will assemble the stakeholder group and report back by Dec. 1, 2017. The finance department will proceed with an RFP if additional outside support is needed and will return to the board with cost estimates before committing funds beyond currently budgeted amounts.
