SEBRING — Think of it like this. Inflation is jacking up the price of gasoline and milk. So impact fees should be adjusted for inflation too. At least, that was the thinking of the Highlands County commissioners, who decided Tuesday to index – their word – impact fees. ...more

July 1, 2008

Having read the opinion of both local papers and letters to the editors regarding the recent discussion of reducing impact fees, I feel compelled to provide some edification to this issue. ...more

July 1, 2008

County Commissioner David Russell took exception to some of the data presented by planning department staffers during Tuesday's discussion on a proposed 25 percent impact fee reduction. ...more

June 26, 2008

RUSSELL CALLS PERMIT INFORMATION IRRELEVANT ...more

June 25, 2008

About a dozen local Realtors, builders and business people stressed to county commissioners Tuesday the urgent need to reduce impact fees by 25 percent to jump start home construction and assist first-time home buyers. ...more

June 25, 2008

Backers say 25 percent reduction would boost economy. ...more

June 24, 2008

County commissioners today will discuss setting a public hearing to consider reducing impact fees by 25 percent for at least 18 months to meet the requirements of the state's recently passed appropriations act for affordable housing. ...more

June 24, 2008

Chamber says it will stimulate economy. ...more

June 23, 2008

You had a letter today suggesting that Guy Maxcy should be removed as county commissioner. My suggestion is that he should be re-elected. When it was proposed that the impact fees should be suspended because of the downturn in local building, I sent an e-mail message to several commissioners expressing my disagreement. Instead of a no response or just a simple acknowledgment that I received from other commissioners, Mr. Maxcy sent me a thoughtful, well-written note expressing his opinion. Then, after the impact fee suspension idea was rejected, Mr. Maxcy had the courtesy to call me on the phone to discuss the issue and to say that he had come to believe the impact fee suspension was a bad idea. ...more

June 16, 2008

COUNTY DEPARTMENTS SUBMIT ANNUAL PLAN ...more

June 7, 2008