Just an update on the latest information -
Stan Saylor is one of the sponsors of House Bill 2564 which was submitted to the Committee on Local Government on April 3, 2006. This bill would amend the Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) which gives municipalities the right to enact Subdivision and Zoning Ordinances.
The amendment is to add a Building Excise Fee (Impact Fee) to all new construction in “Growth Counties.” York County definitely would qualify as a growth county under the definitions of the amendment. If the municipality chooses to adopt a Building Excise Fee ordinance or resolution, then it can charge an excise fee on all new construction (with some exceptions, of course - elderly housing, government buildings, public schools). In addition, school districts in growth counties can also pass a resolution to enact building excise fees. Where both the muni and the sd enact these fees, they are split 50/50.
The builders lobby is screaming about this amendment because it will add so much more money to the cost of a house - and I say, so what?????? Its about time that PA wakes up and does what its neighbor to the south has done for years - make the new residents pay for the increase in costs for the increase in services required by the new residents. And before anyone yells at me - I moved here 20 years ago from MD -so yes, I am one of those transplants. New home buyers in MD have been paying these fees for years and I haven’t seen a decrease in new housing starts there (I used to work for the Baltimore County Zoning Office).
In addition to the impact fee, the municipality, under certain circumstances can impose a moratorium on new developments if there will be a loss of service on local roads below Service Level D and the schools are at 90% or greater capacity, until improvements are made to the infrastructure (i.e., new/improved roads or new schools).
If you are in favor of this legislation, please show your support! Contact your state legislator to let him/her know - get the word out to your neighbors. This would be one way for the school district to raise money without raising your taxes. It is a one time fee, paid by the developer before a building permit will be issued.
