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Flagler County commissioners ask staff to get cost estimate for new impact-fee study
Summary
Commissioners agreed by consensus to have staff return with cost estimates for a new impact-fee study after a detailed four-year review showed transportation and parks fees were phased in and may not reflect current construction costs. Staff said any changes likely require fresh, localized data under Florida law.
Flagler County commissioners directed staff on Nov. 17 to obtain cost estimates for an updated impact-fee study after a detailed four-year review by Growth Management Director Adam Mingle.
Mingle told the board the county contracted with a consultant in 2019 and adopted a consumption-based impact-fee ordinance on Dec. 6, 2021. That ordinance phased in transportation and parks-and-recreation fees each March; Mingle said the phase-in ended March 1, 2025. He warned that the Florida Impact Fee Act requires recent, localized data to justify any increase and that some statutory limits require phased implementation of increases of more than 25%.
"Every four years, my read of statute says you've gotta base it on the new data," Mingle said, stressing that a new study would be needed before the county could adopt larger increases or change fee structures. He also outlined alternative approaches staff has considered, including a mobility fee that would fund transit and nonroad mobility improvements and a county thoroughfare road fee targeted to county-maintained corridors.
Commissioners asked whether fees already collected could be used for bonded projects, parking and specific facility types. Mingle said impact fees are intended for capacity improvements and can, depending on the project and ordinance language, be used for stations, apparatus or bonded debt that accommodates growth, but noted legal and finance review would be required.
After discussion, commissioners signaled consensus to have staff determine the cost to complete an updated impact-fee study and return with options and estimates at a later workshop. The decision was procedural; no formal ordinance change or vote was taken.
What happens next: staff will report back with study cost estimates, potential scope and comparisons to other jurisdictions. Any change in fee rates or fee types will require further board action and, where applicable, compliance with statutory phase-in schedules and public-notice requirements.
