Anne Arundel rejects giving developers a break on impact fees

In compromise, fees will be doubled over two years instead of increased annually

The Anne Arundel County Council has rejected a plan to roll back impact fees for developers and instead voted unanimously to slow future increases in order to help the building industry as it deals with a sluggish economy.

In a compromise, the fees will be doubled over two years, instead of increased annually.

The bill, co-sponored by Councilman Ronald C. Dillon Jr. and three colleagues, sought to maintain the 2009 rates for this year and shift future rate increases back for a year. Dillon said the county's developers and other business owners needed the help as they struggle with the faltering economy.

But county officials balked at the idea, saying the discounted fees could cost the county up to $17 million in revenue as it faces a $93 million budget shortfall.

Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold, who pushed for an increase in impact fees in 2008, had called the plan ill-advised. Before they were raised, the county's impact fees were among the lowest in the state.

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