Sequim still debating proposed impact fees
March 10th, 2010 - 6:35am
(Sequim) -- The city of Sequim will wait until later this month before deciding on sweeping new impact fees.
The city council this week voted to talk more about the fees on March 22nd. The council could make a decision on adding the new fees for construction at that meeting.
The latest move came after more than 20 speakers told the council what they thought about the fees during a public hearing.
Many from the development and real estate industries told the council to slow down. They said the added fees would cripple the construction industry and the city could lose more tax dollars in the long run.
Faleana Wech lives in Sequim and is also a member of the North Olympic Peninsula Building Association.
"We need more time to work through a solution for this. We all want to see Sequim be a thriving city. This is too complex of an issue to be handled in one public hearing and four meetings," said Wech.
Marguerite Glover has worked in real estate for years in the area. She told the council a consultant's study used to come up with the proposed fees didn't consider all the factors.
"Any development is given mitigation to complete. They have to contribute to parks and traffic lights and bringing power underground as part of the requirements for building. Then as they're building the city coffers are refilled with sales taxes, real estate taxes, employment taxes, permit fess and property taxes," said Glover
Some approved of the fees. The Clallam County League of Women Voters told the council its time to enact them.
The group's president Penny Van Vleet says its a matter a equity.
"The League of Women Voters believes adequate financing and impact fees should be paid by those who will most benefit from new facilities. Cost for facilities is skyrocketing and
additional funding is needed for infrastructure which can come from impact fees to lessen the burden on other tax payers," said Van Vleet.
The proposed fees could add more than nine thousand dollars to the cost of building a house in Sequim. The fees would be used to pay for infrastructure and parks.
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