Learn about Development Impact Fees

Articles

(**Author is a current, former or retired RCS Principal )

Ross**, Dennis H. & Thorpe**, Scott I. (1992). Impact Fees: Practical Guide for Calculation and Implementation. Journal of Urban Planning and Development 18(3), 106-118.

Ross and Thorpe discuss the history of impact fees and outline the legal constraints that communities must be aware of before implementing an impact fee system. They also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of two general methods for impact fee calculation- inductive and deductive calculations. The authors identify 22 types of facilities that can be financed using impact fees and provide suggestions of what type of impact unit to use for each.The article concludes with steps to take toward the implementation of impact fees and recommendations for the success of the program.

Jerry Kolo and Todd J. Dicker (1993). Practical Issues in Adopting Local Impact Fees. State and Local Government Review 25(3), 197-206. This is a link to the article in PDF format.

Kolo and Dicker discuss the concept of impact fees and review many of the most important court cases concerning the implementation of an impact fee system. They also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using impact fees and provide readers with guidelines on how to implement impact fees successfully.

Ayres**, Douglas W. & Thorpe**, Scott I. (1991). Financing Capital Improvements. Journal American Water Works Association, August, 1991.

Ayres and Thorpe point out that good management means keeping the agency's infrastructure in good working order and having access to monies should improvement needs arise. To navigate the complexities of the f inancial planning process, it is essential that an agency have a capital improvement plan. This article describes such plans and outlines the vital components that make such plans a success.