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THE. 1NK SPOT 1b :9199330024 MAR 14 '95 10 :51 No .005 P .01 <br /> 206 Adams Way <br /> Chapel Hill, NC 27516 <br /> January 20, 1995 <br /> Office of the County Commissioners <br /> Hillsborough, NC <br /> FAX # 644-3004 <br /> Orange County Commissioners: <br /> Like many Orange County residents, I an very concerned about the effect of our <br /> rapid growth on education in Chapel Hill and Orange County. We simply cannot keep <br /> up with the need for new schools, and their quality is rapidly slipping due to <br /> overcrowding. <br /> I believe the time has come to increase the impact fee on new construction. Just <br /> as it costs more to buy a new car than a used one, it should be expected that a new <br /> house will cost more than an existing one. I would like to see the fees tied to the size of <br /> the new house. My suggested plan is $.50 per square foot, which would actually <br /> decrease the fee on a 1000 square-foot home, and rise,for example,to a fee of$2,000 <br /> on a 4000 square-foot home. Sounds like a lot of money? It would barely be noticed In <br /> the cost of that house. And let's be honest, the builders who are opposed to raising the <br /> Impact fees are not the ones who will be paying it, it's passed along to the buyer. Think <br /> It's an unfair tax? Local real estate agents will be happy to show you some of the <br /> lovely resales that are on the market. And I'm certain that there will be plenty of <br /> demand for new houses anyway. <br /> In case it sounds like I'm passing the tax burden along to newcomers to our <br /> area, I am planning to build a new house here in the next year or so. <br /> When it comes to planning for the rapid growth in our area, consider zoning, <br /> transportation, and services, but please, think about the children first! <br /> Sincerely, <br /> '&1 �iduVrV' <br /> Betsy Spaulding <br />