It’s all about the Lane Miles
I have undertaken a great number of development impact fee studies in the Southern California area and as a result I read a lot of...
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Scott Thorpe
- Jan 23, 2015
- 3 min
The Need for an Infrastructure Czar
I suppose I should have paid greater attention in my Organizational Development classes during my BPA and MPA experiences, but frankly I...
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Scott Thorpe
- Aug 18, 2014
- 4 min
Yet Another Looming Financial Disaster
Last November I wrote the above titled topic about municipal asset replacement programs for the RCS monthly newsletter, and here is an...
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Eric Johnson
- Jun 15, 2014
- 2 min
How Often is Enough?
As a fee consultant, the question that I get asked most often is, “How often should we be updating our fees?” Once I dispose of the...
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Scott Thorpe
- Nov 18, 2013
- 3 min
(Yet Another) Looming Financial Disaster: The Lack of a Funded Infrastructure Replacement Program
When RCS undertakes a Development Impact Fee (DIF) Calculation and Nexus Report, one of the exhibits included in the Report is a table...
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Eric Johnson
- Jul 15, 2013
- 2 min
What’s the difference between Capital Fees and Service Fees?
Lately, there seems to be some confusion about the difference between Capital Impact Fees and Operational Service fees and the rules...
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Scott Thorpe
- Jan 14, 2013
- 4 min
Capital Infrastructure Defines Your Service Level
The Levels of Service (LOS) provided to the residents or businesses of any given City service is based upon (or limited by) the finite...
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Scott Thorpe
- Nov 26, 2012
- 3 min
Police Station Sizing
Those of you with your own in-house police departments have sworn officers (henceforth “officers”) and police department space for them...
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Scott Thorpe
- Jun 11, 2012
- 5 min
Just How Scary is One Attached Dwelling Unit?
I have been completed over one hundred Development Impact Fee Calculation (DIF) studies since 1987 (a quarter of a century, yikes!). ...
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Scott Thorpe
- Apr 11, 2011
- 4 min
Methodology Utilized in DIF Calculations
Back in 1988, RCS identified two distinct methods for calculating development impact fees (DIFs) and identified them as inductive and...
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Scott Thorpe
- Jan 24, 2011
- 4 min
Who’s in charge of the DIF Calculation Process
Sometimes I get a bit envious of my partners Rick and Eric. They primarily undertake the operations (fee) service costing and Cost...
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Rick Kermer
- Oct 11, 2010
- 6 min
Capitalism and Local Government
One of the many nice features of our capitalist system is the ability to vote with our dollars to get the products that we want in the...
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Scott Thorpe
- Sep 12, 2010
- 4 min
Court rules that DIF’s are reasonable
On June 9, 2010 a great breeze was felt throughout California. No, it was not the Pacific Ocean offshore flow typical of June. It was a...
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Eric Johnson
- Jul 26, 2010
- 2 min
Proposition 26 – Voter Approval Requirement for Local Regulatory Fees
On the California ballot this fall is Proposition 26, which proposes to redefine many current fees at the statewide and local level as...
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Rick Kermer
- Jun 22, 2010
- 6 min
Development’s Winners and Losers
There are four players in the development game: developers, contractors, land owners and current residents. Each plays a critical role...
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Scott Thorpe
- Aug 18, 2009
- 3 min
When is a Fee a Tax?
I know I’m preaching to the choir a bit here, but sometimes the choir likes some attention too. We have all been in public hearings...
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Scott Thorpe
- Mar 14, 2009
- 2 min
Should Development Impact Fees be Standardized?
An RCS client recently relayed a conversation he had with an analyst from the Housing Policy Division of the State’s Department of...
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Scott Thorpe
- Dec 12, 2008
- 3 min
Is your infrastructure keeping up with Development?
O.K. so development demand is down, a lot! So what do you do? Plan! Over the past ten years a fairly common lament of many of our...
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Scott Thorpe
- Jul 9, 2008
- 3 min
Development Impact Fees for a Built-Out City
Here is my daily mantra: Development Impact Fees (henceforth DIFs) are not intended to be punitive. They are merely intended to...
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Scott Thorpe
- Feb 4, 2008
- 4 min
Calculation of Development Impact Fees Under AB1600
In California, State legislation sets certain legal and procedural parameters for the charging of development impact fees (henceforth...
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