Star adopts Ada County capital improvement plans into comp plan to enable impact fees

The Star City Council voted to adopt Ada County’s capital improvement plans (CIPs) into the City of Star comprehensive plan and authorized the mayor to negotiate interlocal agreements so the county can collect development‑impact fees for growth‑related county services.

Leon Litson, Ada County planning manager, told the council the CIP adoption is the first step in a multi‑stage process under Idaho law to allow the county to collect fees for facilities and equipment tied to growth (examples cited included jail expansion and EMS station needs). Litson emphasized that impact‑fee rules prohibit using the revenue for staffing or to remedy existing deficiencies; the fees are intended to pay for capital capacity built for future growth.

The county’s package includes proposed fees for jail facilities, EMS and coroner services; the sheriff fee is being collected in unincorporated Ada County but the county is not proposing to collect a sheriff fee in Star. Council members asked clarifying questions about station siting and how fees would be coordinated; staff said interlocal agreements will handle money exchanges and advisory‑committee input. The council approved a motion to adopt the CIPs into the comprehensive plan and authorized the mayor to pursue an interlocal agreement.