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JULY 21 - JULY 27, 2023 | OCALA GAZETTE
Developers raise concerns over potential impact fees for schools By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
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evelopers spoke out at the Marion County School Board workshop on July 14 to warn about negative impacts that could come from reinstating impact fees. The school board is considering bringing back the impact fees, which were suspended in 2011, so developers will pay a one-time fee for each residence built to go toward the construction and renovation of schools as Marion County’s student population grows. The school board’s decision will be informed by a long-range planning study conducted over the past year by Benesch, an independent consulting firm. The company looked at the district’s expected capital needs as well as the ramifications of reimposing the impact fees. At a workshop on July 6, the school board discussed following Benesch’s recommendation to bring back the impact fees at 100% of what the firm proposed. This would make the fee about $10,693 per single family home—170% more than the $3,967 fee that was instated in 2006 and suspended in 2011, according to the study.
Courtesy of Benesch Professional Services Firm
Both workshops were held in order for the district to fall into the “special circumstances” category needed to be exempt from House Bill 337, which limits the frequency and rate that local governments can increase impact fees. David Tillman, president of the Marion County Building Industry Association, spoke to the school board about his concerns that impact fees will be a detriment to affordable housing. “The challenge we face today is to strike a delicate balance between funding our schools and ensuring the availability of affordable housing options,” he said. “We cannot allow our children’s education opportunities to suffer, nor can we disregard the importance of providing affordable housing to those who need it most.” Tillman speculated that reinstating impact fees would cause the price of single-family homes to rise by about $10,000. The district should also explore alternative methods of funding, said Todd Rudnianyn, CEO of Neighborhood Storage. The school board is also eligible to levy the “school half-cent sales tax,” which, if voters approve, would directly fund the construction, reconstruction or improvement of school facilities. The county formerly had this tax from 2005 until 2009, which gave the district
$4.5 million in revenue for schools. The district currently receives funding from the Capital Outlay Millage, and it levies the maximum 1.5 mills to make lease payments, fund construction, and for transportation and technology. Millage is a tax rate assessed on a property’s assessed value, and 1.5 mills is $1.50 for each $1,000 of value. “It turns out that on a per student basis, Marion County has the lowest funding of all 16 counties that we looked at,” Rudnianyn said. Marion County Public Schools has the funding to spend $7,996 per student per year, according to the Fiscal Year 2022-23 budget. This is below the statewide average of $9,983 per student per year, according to the Education Data Initiative. Others suggested that the board consider either reinstating the impact fees at a lower amount or allowing for smaller homes to pay less of a fee. Kevin Sheilley, president of Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, suggested a model for fees that mirrors the county’s transportation impact fees. “I would strongly encourage you to consider setting the impact fee for homes under 1,500 square feet at 10% of the recommendation from the report,” he said. If followed, this suggestion would make the impact fee about $1,069 for a singlefamily home that size or smaller. He speculated that reinstating the fee at the full 100% recommendation could cause issues for renters, not just homeowners. “We anticipate this would cost in rent an additional $100 a month and that would occur not only within new units, but then that sets the standard for all rental units,” Sheilley said. The school board members said they were receptive of these suggestions and wanted to consider alternative approaches that allow impact fees to benefit schools without seriously harming developers, prospective homeowners or renters. “I can appreciate taking a tiered approach for homes under 1,500 square feet as well because I don’t necessarily think that the builder who’s building the $500,000 house should pay the same potentially as someone who’s building a smaller home,” said Board Member Sarah James. James said she supports reinstating the impact fee at 50% initially, and then increasing it in increments over time. At that rate, an impact fee for a single-family home would cost about $5,346 initially. Board Chair Allison Campbell agreed with the idea of a tiered approach but reiterated that the population of school-aged children is growing quickly and that a decision must be made soon to set a plan into action to help fund the construction of new schools and to expand existing schools. “We as a board are aware that the southwest portion of our county has seen the most increase,” she said. “Part of the solution to that is to relieve pressure off of our southwest Ocala schools by building new schools in southwest Ocala and that’s exactly what was being proposed moving forward.” While the southwest area of the county is experiencing the most overcrowding, the entire district is experiencing the strain. District-wide, elementary schools have 8% capacity remaining, middle schools have 4% remaining and high schools are the most crowded with 2% remaining capacity, according to the Benesch study. “We did actually end the year about 1,000 to 1,100 students I think more than what the projection was,” Campbell said. The school board will meet with the Marion County Board of County Commissioners at a joint workshop Aug. 11 to further discuss the potential of reinstating school impact fees. Once the school board members come to a consensus on whether the fees should be adopted and at what rate, as well as any provisions necessary and a timeline, they will make a recommendation to the county commission, which has the final say on approving or turning down impact fees requests.
Funding for Alzheimers Continued from page A1 Action Plan, the establishment of the Florida Alzheimer’s Center for Excellence was part of the Freedom First Budget signed last year by the governor. At the time, the funding marked a nearly 60 percent increase from previous expenditures since the governor took office in 2019. For most, the news should supersede, if just momentarily, party allegiances and the current political buzz about DeSantis’ U.S. Presidential candidacy. The mid-day press event coincided with the recent news that the governor lags behind former President Donald Trump in poll numbers forecasting the Republican primary winner. “The idea that DeSantis needs a shake-up is widely held among Republicans,” said NBC News, citing “roughly a dozen strategists and donors, affiliated with the campaign and not.” First-care responders, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, Florida Sen. Keith Perry, Florida
Reps. Ralph E. Massulo and Ryan prioritization of addressing the 14 years ago and, at that time, Chamberlain, Marion County debilitating diseases. it was the first time our family Commissioners Kathy Bryant An estimated 800,000 people had encountered the decline of and Michelle Stone, and Ocalaprovide unpaid care to a loved an aging loved one. It ripped our based healthcare professionals one with Alzheimer’s and worlds upside down.” were in attendance. dementia, said Branham, adding, Ramos went on to describe Other speakers at the event “I’ve experienced firsthand how her grandmother went from included Michelle Branham, the impact Alzheimer’s has on a thriving, self-sufficient woman secretary of the Florida families and loved ones.” to a debilitated, dependent Department of Elder Affairs; Under Branham’s leadership, medical patient known as a Cary Eyre, dementia director at the department serves Florida’s “wandering risk.” the Florida Department of Elder older adults, providing services “Today, she cannot feed Affairs; Jennifer Martinez, the and support initiatives through herself. She cannot speak. executive director of Marion Florida’s Aging Network. She just babbles,” Ramos said. Senior Services; and Christina Ramos, whose parents were “Unfortunately, she can’t tell Ramos, administrator of in the audience, shared her you if she has an appetite or Touching Hearts at Home. personal journey as a caregiver she has to use the restroom … “We’ve taken active steps to at the agency event on Southwest I know that there are lots of combat this issue, ranking No. 34th Avenue. people in this room today who 1 in the country for funding “Our inspiration was my deal with our seniors and those for Alzheimer’s and related Nana,” Ramos shared. “My facing Alzheimer’s or dementia. dementia,” Nuñez said. grandmother was diagnosed with The $12.5 million increase for Branham, appointed by the awful disease approximately Alzheimer’s disease and related DeSantis to dementias serve as the to expand agency head services at the “I’ve experienced firsthand the impact for the Florida 18 memory Department of disorder Alzheimer’s has on families and loved ones.” care Elder Affairs clinics here, in December and also to Michelle Branham Secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs 2021, spoke help other on the service
providers, is phenomenal.” Nuñez claimed that Florida now ranks first in the country for funding for Alzheimer’s and dementia. “So that’s something we are very proud of, we put our money where our mouth is and we understand we need to be forward-thinking and making sure we’re funding this in a way that’s appropriate,” said Nuñez. She added that more than 115,000 people in Marion County are over the age of 65, making them more vulnerable to the disease. “I know it takes a strong community to keep things moving forward, and I’m very blessed to be a part of one here in Marion County,” Martinez affirmed during her address. “I leave you with this: 143,000 residents in Marion County are 60 and over; 54,000 of those are 75 and over; and 15,000 of those are probable Alzheimer’s patients in our future. While these numbers are daunting, I can confidently say we will meet these needs and challenges together.”
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION PROCESS IS OPEN
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he U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the opening of a financial assistance application process for eligible farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021. Section 22007 of the Inflation
Reduction Act directs USDA to provide this assistance. The website, 22007apply.gov, includes an English- and Spanish-language application that applicants can download or submit via an e-filing portal, information on how to obtain technical assistance in-person or virtually and
additional resources and details. The application process will be open until Oct. 31. According to new releases, vendors operating four regional hubs, including the Windsor Group LLC Region II East hub in the GTE building at 2153 SE Hawthorne Road, Gainesville,
are providing technical assistance and working with community-based organizations to conduct outreach using digital and grassroots strategies to ensure potential applicants are informed about the program and have the opportunity to apply. To learn more, call 1-800-721-0970 or visit usda.gov.