College Station, Texas

Multi-Facility Impact Fee Study 
   

For the City of College Station, Duncan Associates prepared an impact fee study for road, drainage, water and wastewater facilities. The study evaluated fee feasibility in terms of data adequacy; appropriateness of fees for different geographic areas; planning consistency; administrative ease and costs; revenues and cost effectiveness; and equity. The study recommended that the City consider fees for drainage, water and wastewater, but not for roads. The study found no compelling justification for road fees because local arterials were almost all state highways, and the cost of

upgrading such facilities can not be included in impact fees in Texas. Road fees would also be merely another way of accomplishing what the City then accomplished through its development exaction process. The study indicated that the City needed a detailed drainage master plan before proceeding with a drainage impact fee. The study also suggested that the City consider using drainage utility charges and drainage fees in tandem as a means of equitably distributing the costs of needed stormwater improvements among existing residents and new development. Drainage utility charges could be structured to cover the costs of operations and maintenance, as well as the improvement costs needed to address existing deficiencies. Impact fees could then be used to finance major growth-related facilities. Such a program would result in an efficient and equitable method of financing needed improvements. Water and wastewater impact fees were considered are feasible from the perspective of cost effectiveness and data availability. Because of the high mobility of local residents (students), significant inter-generational inequities were not present.