The County will be required to provide $200,000 in matching funds in order to receive the grant. At the June 8th Board of County Commissioner's Meeting, the Board will consider utilizing District 503 Community Park Impact Fees to fund the match. It is important to note this project will not involve use of ad valorem tax dollars. Impact Fees are collected during the permitting process for new construction in the unincorporated areas of the County, therefore only those who have applied for building permits are contributing to the Impact Fee funds. Impact Fees are collected because each new structure or expansion causes an impact on the County in some way. For example, new homes have an increase on the amount of traffic traveling on a particular road, an increase in calls for fire/rescue, and an increase in the need for new parks and facilities.
Impact Fees that are collected can only be used to fund capital improvement projects. Planning staff determined that the use of Community Park Impact Fees is justified because adding an additional football field is an expansion to the community recreational facilities and is necessary to accommodate population growth in the Yulee area (District 503). If the Board approves utilizing the Community Park Impact Fees as matching funds on June 8th, the Jaguar Foundation will provide a grant payment schedule to coincide with the construction schedule.
If you have any questions about this project, please contact Facilities Maintenance Director, Bob Knott, at (904) 530-6120 or via e-mail at [email protected].
-Sabrina Robertson
County Manager's Office