By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LEBANON - Warren County commissioners want to meet soon with all elected officials in the county to find out how many of them will support imposing impact fees on new homes to help schools.

At the Feb. 20 work session, commissioners will explain what impact fees are, what they can do, and then take a headcount of supporters.

"We have to make sure we have our own back yard on board," Commissioner Pat South said Tuesday.

Commissioner Mike Kilburn advocates a $5,000 to $10,000 impact fee on all new homes and apartments.

Commissioners say there is growing support for the move, which would generate money to pay for new schools and could slow new developments. Kilburn has been pushing for state legislation that would govern impact fees, which have been upheld by the courts for Ohio cities.

In December, the County Commissioners Association of Ohio included the authority to impose impact fees on new development as part of their legislative priorities during 2003 and 2004.

Impact fees are payments required by local governments from new developments for the purpose of providing new or expanded public capital facilities required to serve that development. They exist in 17 states, according to the American Planning Association.

Commissioners also are pushing for larger lots and more open space for new subdivisions.

Warren County grew by 39 percent in the 1990s, from 113,909 to 158,383, according to 2000 Census figures. County planners estimate 171,000 people now live in the county.

Commissioner Larry Crisenbery says he expects the county's population to grow by 6 to 8 percent per year during the next 30 years.

In Clearcreek Township, Administrator Dennis Pickett said impact fees have been discussed for roads to keep up with increased traffic demands in the northern township of about 9,000 residents.

Kilburn called for state Rep. Tom Raga, R-Mason, to help craft legislation.

But when Raga spoke with Enquirer staff last week, he said impact fees were not his priority.

"From my experience in local government, I am not a big believer in impact fees in controlling growth," he said. "There needs to be a lot of work done before impact fee legislation would come to the forefront. I believe there are other tools at the county's disposal to control growth."

Homebuilders associations across the country, including Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky's, have told the Enquirer they oppose impact fees.

Homebuilders object to new homeowners being shouldered with paying for benefits the entire community enjoys, and say impact fees are a sign of poor planning.

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.