Ashley has it right. Snohomish County collects mitigation fees for roads, parks and schools only and at an average of about $2,500 for each new home. These are not fees made up by the county. Development impacts us and has costs. These fees are an attempt to recover real costs. The costs in the Lake Stevens area have been estimated to be a staggering $56,000 just for roads per new household.
While the impact fees may slightly increase the cost of new housing it is important to remember the fees are not new costs created by the county. These are the costs of new development. The role of impact fees is to shift out those costs from the general tax base to specific new development. This provides tax relief and thereby lowers the cost of housing for the whole community. New development will not provide the costs of impacts from taxes. It is estimated to only pay for 5 percent over the life of the home. Financing costs through bonds can increase the cost of infrastructure by 100 percent over 20 years through interest costing the taxpayer even more.
Mitigation fees should be carefully considered, they should be accurate and fair. That’s what I’ve heard Mr. Ashley say and he has it right.
The developers support John Koster because he will reduce those mitigation fees and eventually cost the taxpayers of Snohomish County millions in higher taxes.
The current system is deceptive and unfair. We should stop subsidizing the development industry.
Lynnwood
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