OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The first of two Marion County Board of County Commissioners workshops regarding transportation impact fees and consideration of extraordinary circumstances was held April 8, 2025, at the McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium.

The studies for the transportation impact fees were last updated in 2015, and they were adopted at 11-20% of the calculated rates, said Ningun Kamp, Benesch consultant.

“This study’s purpose was to reflect the current data, primarily because of those low adoption percentages,” said Kamp. “The fees are exceeding the 50% limit.”

Understanding Florida’s Cap on Fee Increases

  • 2021 law (HB 337) capped fee increases at 50%, phased over time.

  • Exception: A study demonstrating extraordinary circumstances and two public workshops can allow bypassing the cap with a two-thirds vote.

“The extraordinary circumstances themselves are currently not defined in the statutes,” Kamp explained.

Marion County by the Numbers (Statewide Rankings)

  • 18th in population

  • 17th in projected growth rate (1.1% annually)

  • 18th in projected absolute growth (107,000 new residents by 2050)

  • 15th in residential permitting (360 permits in 2011 → over 7,000 in 2024)

Extraordinary Circumstances Identified

Cost Increases Since 2015

  • FDOT Long Range: +134%

  • FDOT District 7: +173%

  • Producer Price Index (Highway): +53%

  • National Highway Construction Cost Index: +88%

Roadway Capacity Deficit by 2045
Jurisdiction 2045 Lane Miles Over Capacity % Over Capacity
County 950 191 20%
Other 692 145 21%
Total 1,642 336 20%

“After the cost feasible plan is built, we would still have a deficiency of about 20% of the lane miles,” said Kamp. 

Financial Snapshot: Projected Needs vs. Revenue

Project Needs (to 2045)

  • 336 lane miles over capacity

  • $4.72M per mile = $1.59 billion

Revenue Projections (2025–2045)

  • Sales Tax: $900M

  • Current Impact Fees: $200M

  • Total Available: $1.1B

  • Shortfall: $490M

Impact Fee Revenue Scenarios (Based on 2019–2023 Permits)

Scenario Revenue Shortfall Adoption Level
Cap Low $184M -$306M —
Cap High $226M -$264M —
Full Low $470M -$20M —
Full High $578M +$88M 84%

“With those projections over a 20-year period, the county would generate anywhere from $184 million to about $578 million,” Kamp concluded.

Next Steps

The second public workshop is scheduled for May 6.

More news that matters to you…