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Belgium board directs staff to apply incurred expenses to impact fees, discusses accelerating water-main project to avoid refunds
Summary
The board authorized staff to apply $1,225.50 of eligible expenses to impact fees due by Jan. 1, 2025 and to refund remaining amounts due after those expenses; members discussed accelerating engineering and construction to preserve roughly $60,000 in fees that otherwise could be refunded.
At the Dec. 9 meeting the Belgium Village Board directed staff to apply expenses already incurred on eligible water projects against impact fees that are due to be refunded at the turn of the year, and to refund remaining balances that are legally due. Staff (S2) told the board the packet shows $1,225.50 in eligible expenses incurred this year that can be applied before refunds are issued. The motion to direct staff on applying expenses and returning remaining funds as required by deadline was moved by Marshall (S3) and seconded by Sarah (S2); the motion passed by voice vote.
Board members discussed whether the village could accelerate part of the planned water-main looping project so that deposited impact fees could be spent on construction instead of returned to applicants. In discussion one speaker estimated roughly $60,000 of impact fees could be at risk if the project is not advanced; another participant said the full project had been discussed at around $422,000 in planning estimates. Staff advised the board it will review bills and try to produce billings and engineering invoices as soon as possible to preserve eligible funds and recommended applying existing documented expenses before issuing refunds.
The board recorded no exact final figure to spend before the refund deadline; staff said they would review outstanding bills and return a recommended accounting for the January agenda. The board approved the direction to apply incurred expenses and proceed where lawful; specific refund amounts and any project-scheduling changes will be set in subsequent staff reports and agenda items.
