GREEN COVE SPRINGS – In a meeting that lasted six hours, Clay County commissioners Tuesday passed a transportation impact fee ordinance, approved a final budget for 2017-18 and set a millage rate for the fiscal year.

Making their way through an agenda that included nearly 30 items, the commissioners took up the transportation impact fee ordinance, passing it by a vote of 4-1, with Commissioner Gavin Rollins dissenting. Rollins has indicated during previous discussions of the fee that he didn’t believe it was right for the Keystone Heights area he represents.

The transportation impact fee – also called the roadway impact fee – was first passed in 2008, when the county was growing at a rapid rate. The fee was designed to help the county keep up with the growth and its effect on the roadways here. It went into effect Jan. 1, 2009, but due to the economic collapse of the time, it was placed in a moratorium status. The few fees that had been collected were refunded and the moratorium has been renewed and kept in place ever since.

The commission’s actions will lift the moratorium, and the roadway impact fee ordinance passed on Tuesday will go into effect Jan. 1, 2018.

The amount charged will be about $3,200 for a residential unit, while commercial rates will vary, depending on a wide range of elements included in the commercial unit.

Developers who apply for a permit will be charged only 50 percent of the total fee for the first six months of its implementation. After that, the fee charged will be 100 percent.

But developers won’t have to pay the amount due at the time they apply for their building permit. Rather, the fee will be due when the electricity is turned on in a unit, said County Manager Stephanie Kopelousos at a prior meeting when details of the fee were being worked out.

That means that the developers will not have to pay interest on loans taken out to support their projects until the units are ready to be put on the market or occupied, said Vice Chairwoman Diane Hutchings.

“We’ve worked very hard to accommodate the construction industry,” Hutchings said.

Some, including at least one resident who often attends commission meetings, have said they believed the $3,200 fee for a single-family home was too low. Among them was Chairman Wayne Bolla, who has said while he considers the $3,200 to be a “low ball” number, he would just like to get the program started and revisit the number in the future if it is not working.

Richard Klinzman, who has run for public office in the past, has also expressed his dismay at the rate during public comment, saying he thought it should be at least “10 times” higher.

The county will continue to work with developers on one segment of the impact fee that has to do with developer credits. Discussion will continue on that issue and a resolution will be presented at a future commission meeting.

Other counties, such as St. Johns, have a much higher rate and are considering raising those rates in the near future.

In other action, the commissioners passed a budget for Fiscal Year 2017-18 of $306,232,149. That number is inclusive of the Lake Asbury Municipal Service Benefit District budget of $635,195.

The millage rate for the fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, will stay the same as it is now – 8.1010.

While the millage rate will remain the same as it has been for the past few years, residents may see their ad valorem tax bill increase because property values have been rising.

One mill equates to $1 in tax revenue for each $1,000 in assessed property value. That means that at the 8.1010 rate, a $150,000 home with a $50,000 Homestead Exemption will see a property tax bill of some $810.

Commissioners also voted to pass an ordinance that would raise the Tourism Development Tax to 5 percent.

Presented by Kimberly Morgan, director of tourism and film development, the increased revenue would be used to promote Clay County as a tourist destination. The proposal was backed by the Tourism Development Council, she said.

The Tourist Development Tax has been in effect in Clay County since 1988, and was first set as a 2 percent tax on overnight accommodations, said Morgan. It was raised to 3 percent in 1999 and has stayed at that rate ever since.

A recent study showed more than 52 percent of the state is charging more than Clay County, Morgan noted.

“They’re at a competitive advantage,” she said. “They have more dollars to spend on marketing. They have more dollars to spend on product development to enhance their destinations and therefore get a greater return on their investment.”

The tax is one that does not typically affect the pockets of Clay County residents, she said, as it is considered a “user” tax.

“It’s the only tax not paid for by Clay County residents, unless they choose to do a staycation,” Morgan said.

Clay County has been actively pursuing promoting the county as a tourist destination. Passing the increased tax will help in that effort, and is backed by the local hoteliers, Morgan said.

“It’s a way to help them promote their industry,” said Hutchings.

Commissioners also approved a list of members for the upcoming Charter Review Committee. The members were nominated by the commissioner who represents the district in which the members live.

In District One, represented by Commissioner Mike Cella, those named to the committee are Amy Pope Wells, Kim Knapp, David Cheers, and alternate Paul Sarto.

In District Two, represented by Bolla, committee members named are Chris Rodatz, Tamara Brandt, Tom Branham and alternate Bob Tatum.

In District Three, represented by Hutchings, Amy Miller, Art Hooker, Laurel New and Alternate Glo Smith are those named to the committee.

In District Four, represented by Rollins, those nominated are Charles “Scotty” Taylor Jr., Eric Jaffe, Charles Cook and alternate Charlie Thompson.

In District Five, represented by Commissioner Gayward Hendry, nominees are Larry Kirkman, Ronnie Coleman, Ronald Stotler and alternate Richard Klinzman.

The Charter Review Committee meets every four years. It is expected to start its review of the county charter in October.