CPZ2019-00027 | Clark County

School Impact Fee Request – Ridgefield

Project Summary

The Ridgefield School District Board of Directors has requested an increase to the district’s school impact fees under its existing 2016 adopted capital facilities plan. This proposal is to collect the recommended school impact fees and re-adopt the Ridgefield School District capital facilities plan by reference in the 20-year Clark County Comprehensive Growth Management Plan.

Background

Chapter 36.70A of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) enables school districts to develop capital facilities plans and impact fee programs for new residential developments in order to offset the impacts of growth on school facilities. It further requires these plans and programs be reviewed and approved as part of the county and city comprehensive plans in which the school district is located.

The minimum requirements of a school district’s capital facilities plan are defined in RCW 36.70A.070(3) and Clark County Code (CCC) 40.620.030(A). A school district requesting impact fees shall submit to the county, and update at least every four (4) years, a capital facilities plan adopted by the school board and consisting of the following elements: a standards of service description, an inventory of existing facilities, a forecast of future needs, proposed locations and capacities of expanded or new facilities, a six-year financing plan, and, application of the impact fee formula set out in CCC 40.620.040.

School district capital facility plans typically include multiple funding sources: “Depending on district eligibility, districts pay for a portion of the costs of capital facilities with funds provided by the State of Washington through the Common School Construction Fund. The remaining capital expenses must be raised locally, through the passage of bond levies (which raise the property taxes of all residential property owners within a particular district) and/or impact fees (which apply to new residential construction with the district).” [2016 Plan, pp. 233-234].

The Ridgefield School District Board of Directors submitted a letter on June 20, 2019 requesting an increase to the district’s school impact fees effective January 1, 2020 with an additional increase effective January 1, 2021.

The school district’s letter describes the high amount of growth in the Ridgefield School District and capital facility needs that include building a new elementary, middle and high school, as some of the reasons the school district is requesting increased impact fees. The potential removal of urban holding near the NE 179th St. and I-5 interchange is also described as accelerating growth in the school district and the impact fee request is to bring school impact fees into alignment with the facility needs and costs in the capital facilities plan.

The current plan and impact fee calculations allow for a higher impact fee amount than is currently being collected. The School District Board of Directors recommends that Clark County collect school impact fees as follows:

	Existing Fee	Proposed Fee	% Change
Single Family Residence	$6,530	$10,100 – 2020 $11,290 – 2021	+55% +12%
Multi Family Residence	$6,530	$10,100 – 2020 $11,290 – 2021	+55% +12%

Public meetings

Sept. 3, 2019 at 6 p.m.– County Council Hearing

On September 3, 2019, the county council approved (5 to 0) an increase to the Ridgefield School District impact fees for new residential development to $10,100 for both single family and multi-family residences pursuant to CCC 40.560.010.

July 18, 2019 – Planning Commission Hearing