MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR INTERNAL USE May 12, 2000

CLARIFICATION OF IMPACT FEES FOR SCHOOLS

No municipality in Wake County charges impact fees for public schools, this according to SL 97-0450 adopted in August of 1997. This includes but is not limited to plan review, building inspections, widening roads, and water and sewer line extensions. This ban on fees applies not only to new schools but also to school renovations, additions, and even trailers.

Since August 1997, Cary has "donated" more than $5.5 million worth of construction-related services to the schools.

During last night’s public hearing on Cary’s $3.7 million school finding proposal, Wake County School Board member Beverly Clark suggested that some of this money should go to the School Board to reimburse it for "the impact fees that Cary charges before schools can be built." These fees, she said, are the highest in the county.

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