No transportation impact fees for 2012

The Santa Rosa County Commissioners voted today to extend the suspension of transportation impact fees for the fourth year, through December 2012.

Any new construction, residential or commercial, which would normally be assessed a transportation impact fee during the building permit process in 2009, 2010, 2011 or 2012 will have impact fees waived.

Those paying installments will be required to make payments for 2010, 2011 and 2012. Commissioners will address the suspension again in December 2012 for the following years.

At a commission workshop on Jan. 29, 2009, commissioners originally voted to suspend the collection of transportation impact fees for the 2009 calendar year as an incentive to stimulate new local construction projects.

Considering the current national downturn in the economy and high unemployment, commissioners understand the need to create employment opportunities, including in the construction industry.