GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A public hearing for a proposed ordinance that would raise public school impact fees and a discussion on nonprofit funding was the center of discussion during a relatively short session for the Clay County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night.

As required by the BCC, public school impact fees must be reviewed and revised if necessary in consideration of additional costs such as changes in prices, revenues and other factors.

The BCC reviewed a new study conducted and also examined by the Clay County School Board.

The fees are set not to increase by 12.5% of the current rate but by 12.5% of the 50% that the District is allowed to increase the impact fee.

This means that the impact fee would only increase by $800 annually, according to Bryce Ellis, Assistant Superintendent for Operations.

For example, in Year 1 (June 1, 2023-May 30, 2024), a single-family unit would pay $7,913, a multi-family unit would pay $3,629, and a mobile home would pay $6,721 and in Year 2 (June 1, 2024-May 30, 2025) a single-family unit would pay $8,793, multi-family unit $4,022, and mobile home $7,464.

While impact fees are still set to increase in June but would still be capped at a limit, the study requested a much more significant amount than residents will have to pay.

The impact fee was set in place as costs continued to rise for the county’s schools, infrastructure projects and additional police and fire protection.

The fees will help cover costs for current schools already established in Clay and two future schools that are set to be completed in the next few years.

Spring Park Elementary, a new school in Green Cove Springs set to open in August, will feature the same design and construction as Discovery Oaks Elementary, which was completed in 2018 for $26 million.

Spring Park, however, will cost $40 million, she said.

“The costs are exorbitant, and you just have to keep up,” Ellis said.

The CCDS is also looking into building a Kindergarten-through-eighth grade school and high school in the Saratoga Springs area, which would cost $200 million, she said. “We already know we are in a bind. We need schools, our kids are at max capacity, and people are still coming in because we have such a wonderful county,” said Commissioner Kristen Burke.

The motion passed, 5-0.

In other business, the BCC and Assistant County Manager Troy Nagel had a productive discussion on nonprofit funding.

A framework for funding charitable organizations will be further examined during the commissioners’ next meeting on Feb. 28.

Nagle said he would continue conversations with the organizations before the board’s next meeting to get moving with the final contracts.

Nagel recommended the county fund capital projects at 10% and small projects at 15%.