While we're at it, who needs schools either. That's pretty much the stance the Hillsborough County commission took last night when it voted not to raise impact fees on new homes from a mere $196.00 to $1,000.00. Their reasoning is that it would cause the cost of a home to raise where you're average person couldn't afford it. Well I hate to break it to them but the cost of homes are beyond the point where average people can afford them. When a community gets built with homes starting at $350K or greater, do tell what average people can afford them? Teachers, Firemen, Police, your service workers, can these groups afford these homes? No! They would be hard pressed to afford a home at $150K let alone the exorbatant amounts these developers are charging for their wood shack homes they build.
The county of course wants to see what the state is going to do which is typical of Hillsborough. This current commission has always had the mentality of wait and see what the state gives us. Well if their projections are correct and the state gives hillsborough county $140 million, where is the additional $250 million going to come up to make up the $390 million shortfall the school district is facing. One proposal is add a 1/2 cent to the sales tax. I don't agree with that. Why should I be taxed for schools when I have no children. It's one thing if I were to buy a new home that is adding to stress on our roads and schools but when I may not live in hillsborough but end up having to pay for their schools, how does that benefit me? It's time the buck is passed along to the people who causing the problems, the new home owners. They are moving here in droves so they should foot the extra money for the new schools that are required for their children. Hillsborough needs to raise its impact fees and stop rubberstamping new construction. At the pace of growth in this county it'll be so overcrowded their will be no room for new schools, roads, or transit alternatives. What we need is a new commission!
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