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Chairman Bird pointed out that we must rule out transportation <br />impact fees. <br />Director Davis discussed the gas tax revenue which is <br />collected through local option gas tax. The City of Fellsmere gets <br />a share of that and could use that for traffic and transportation <br />purposes at their discretion. The County receives a share of that <br />gas revenue but limits its use to capital improvements with a <br />smaller portion for operating expenses, but it is not used for <br />projects which benefit only a specific area. <br />Director Davis advised that the third source of funds for <br />paving and drainage, projects is the County's program for special <br />assessment. When a project benefits a specific area and does not <br />benefit the general public, the County determines who benefits, the <br />cost of the project is developed, the County allocates 25 percent <br />of the cost of the project as the County's share and the remaining <br />75 percent is assessed to the property owners in the benefitted <br />area. It is called a fair share assessment program because we <br />develop an assessment formula which is fair to everyone. Public <br />hearings are held, the affected property owners can voice their <br />concern, and a decision is made whether to go ahead with the <br />project. <br />Councilwoman Hendricksen contended that while this project <br />benefits a restricted area, the area involved consists of many <br />large parcels which means fewer people being assessed. She also <br />contended that Jack Berry Groves did not pay impact fees and they <br />are drawing benefit from this project, and she urged that their <br />share be increased. <br />Commissioner Adams pointed out that we do not consider <br />agriculture in terms of impact fees for development because we want <br />to encourage agriculture. She did not want to characterize the <br />grove owner as the bad guy. <br />Councilwoman Hendricksen agreed that the grove owner is not <br />the bad guy, but she wanted to be sure Berry Groves was fairly <br />assessed along with all the other property owners. <br />Deputy County Attorney Collins explained that if a grove were <br />newly developed, the County would analyze the impact and they would <br />be assessed. <br />Chairman Bird summarized that of the three sources of funds <br />for paving projects, the traffic impact fee funds and the gasoline <br />tax revenue could not be used for this project. The County can <br />only contribute under the petition paving program, which normally <br />is a 25-75 split. Funds are kept in a revolving account for <br />petition paving programs and he understood from the County <br />Administrator that sufficient funds are available for the County to <br />�i <br />APP 2 7 poi DQOl4, 89 ; FAGE 99 <br />