Updated school district impact fees take effect September 26
Fees charged to residential developers to support new and expanded schools in several School Districts around the county will increase September 26. The Board of Clark County Commissioners approved the new fees September 25.
School Districts within Clark County are required to update their respective Capital Facilities Plan at least every two years. In 2007 the Green Mountain, La Center, Hockinson, Camas and Washougal School Districts requested an increase in school impact fees to pay for additional school sites and buildings due to expected population growth.
The Vancouver School District requested their fees be reduced in response to an anticipated reduction in demand.
Documents and project contacts can be found below.
County traffic impact fee increases take effect October 15
Fees charged to commercial and residential developers to support future road improvements will increase substantially beginning October 15. The Board of Clark County Commissioners approved increased Traffic Impact Fees (TIFs) on September 25.
Additional revenue from these fees will help deal with growing road improvement needs and related increases in road construction costs throughout unincorporated Clark County. Current annual TIF revenue averages about $6 million. The new fees will raise an estimated $10-15 million annually.
This is the first major TIF rate increase since 2001. Smaller increases in recent years have been pegged to the annual inflation rate. These adjustments have proved inadequate to meet growing demands for new and improved roads.
The rate increases vary by existing geographic TIF districts. The commission action retained a TIF fee exemption for elementary and middle schools, but high schools could be subject to TIF fees depending on actual impacts on the transportation system. The commission also created two new rural TIF districts.
Revenue from the TIF fees will also be allocated differently, with the costs of projects with regional impacts being apportioned county-wide. Smaller projects that have strictly local effects on traffic and roads would continue to be collected and used within the TIF district.
Documents
- SIF and TIF Handout (PDF - 38K)
- Map of TIF Districts (PDF - 215K)
Project Contacts
For traffic impact fees, contact:
Steve Schulte, Manager
(360) 397-6118 ext. 4017
steve.schulte@clark.wa.gov
For school impact fees, contact:
Jeff Niten, Planner
(360) 397-2280 ext. 4909
jeff.niten@clark.wa.gov
