News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Putnam County Commission approved a resolution supporting legislative efforts to remove population thresholds for counties to impose an impact fee.
The one-time fee on new construction is collected during the permitting compass. Commissioner Jonathan Williams said the county is currently not eligible to set the fee.
“It is my belief and belief of others that support this resolution that there should be no growth thresholds,” Williams said. “That it should be just another option that counties have. It would be an alternate revenue source that Putnam County could use that we could take a lot of pressure off of our property tax rate.”
Williams said he believes counties should be able to implement the fee as needed instead of the state limiting use. If passed as state law, the county will have the choice to set a fee and use the revenue for schools.
The resolution did not pass unanimously however. Commissioner Kathy Dunn said she was against the resolution. She said with the affordability of houses and high interest rates, new home owners should not face another fee.
