In reference to Mr. Seeman’s Feb. 21 letter on Sussex County school tax burden, I am in total agreement.
Sussex County needs to assess an impact fee on developers. I feel doing so would compensate for the cost of new schools and any associated transportation expenses.
Jurisdictions in other counties and states have invoked this fee under an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance. We are talking about costs needed to build new school buildings. We are not talking about operating costs. This requirement should not only apply to new developments but also to existing developments which are under construction but have not been built out. A level of service test to determine the adequacy of school capacity before any additional permits are issued should be applied.
Should county lawyers claim we cannot do that because we would be sued - perhaps it is time to find county lawyers that are willing to enforce this necessary requirement upon any developers which have deviated from final planning the zoning site drawings and conditions.
Finally, this should not require an extensive task force or study group to look into this methodology. A review of the ordinances already in place in New Castle and Kent counties for adaptation within Sussex County would be a logical starting point.
Why should Sussex County continue to allow these mostly out-of-state developers to reap higher profits at Sussex County taxpayers’ expense?
Richard Raynic
Lewes
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