Brooksville council directs staff to draft RFP for updated impact‑fee study amid SB 180 uncertainty

Mayor Tanner and the council voted unanimously to direct staff to prepare a request for proposals for an updated impact‑fee study and to return the draft RFP to council for review before it is issued. The city manager presented examples of recent studies in other jurisdictions ranging roughly from $53,000 to $152,000, and said the work could be paid from existing impact‑fee budget funds (funds 110–115).

The council’s decision followed detailed discussion about timing and legal risk. Councilmember (speaker 3) argued that Brooksville should “get ahead of the ball” given roughly 4,500 potential new homes planned and aging infrastructure, saying an updated study could prevent the city from constantly reacting to growth. The city manager noted prior studies and timelines: the city’s last agreement was approved Nov. 16, 2020, with a final report dated Sept. 23, 2022, at a cost of $81,051.

Becky Voss, the attorney on the phone, described the legal landscape as unsettled. “It is not at all apparent that SB 180 would stop us from having higher impact fees,” she said, noting the bill’s wording is unclear and that courts or future legislative action could change how the law is applied. She advised the city could proceed with studies and address any legal objections later, saying there are cure periods in the statute’s timeline for resolving challenges.

Council members stressed fiscal caution and procedural steps. Several council members asked that staff bring a draft RFP back to the dais for discussion before it is posted. The motion approved by the council requires staff to return the RFP to council for review and only then to release it for proposals; the motion passed 5–0.

Next steps: staff will prepare the RFP, bring the draft to council for discussion and then proceed with the procurement process consistent with the council’s direction.