Board directs public workshops and hearings on impact‑fee updates as state law changes loom

County staff briefed commissioners on a suite of updated impact‑fee studies and the effect of Florida Senate Bill 1080, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2026 and changes vote thresholds and procedural steps for raising impact fees.

Adam Gormley (Development Services) summarized the studies in progress and noted statutory constraints under the Florida Impact Fee Act. He said mobility and stormwater assessments are being updated with consultant support, the school impact‑fee study is being reviewed by the school district, and water/wastewater impact fees require phased implementation because the state limits large increases without extraordinary‑circumstance findings and additional procedural steps.

Lisa Ray (Director, Water Resources) told the board rising construction costs have driven the need for increases and gave an example: in the South Central area a fee that currently averages about $5,865 per unit would, for full cost recovery, rise to roughly $13,270 per unit; Ray proposed implementing increases using the 50% rule phased over four years where necessary. Fire Chief Jason Dougherty discussed using an incremental method for fire impact fees and that a full methodology change would require additional steps and a longer timeline.

Commissioner Willstell moved — and the board approved — a motion directing staff to set the required publicly noticed workshops and to schedule ordinance adoption hearings this calendar year so any increase above 50% could be considered before SB1080’s Jan. 1, 2026 effective date. Commissioners discussed distributional consequences of partial increases and emphasized starting impact‑fee review on a 4‑year cadence going forward. The motion carried unanimously.