The proposal calls for new single-family housing fee of $11,208, while the proposed maximum fee for multi-family unites is $7,779. School officials said the current residents of the district will not be impacted by the fee and could actually see a decrease in tax millage rates once the impact fees are in place. The fees are based on based on the level of services in the district and the total assets of the school district.
According to the 2020 United States Census, the area that encompasses Anderson School Dist. One is in the fastest growing part of Anderson County, and the district currently adds between 100-300 students per year.
This number is expected to increase, as seen the nearly 2,000 new housing units approved or under consideration in the area in recent months, including 732 already improved in Piedmont alone (Wren schools).
"Since new construction is driving the increase in enrollment, we feel they should pay for the impact they are having on enrollment," said Anderson School Dist. One Superintendent Robbie Binnicker.
Binnicker also said the growth is causing stress on school enrollments. The study suggested that schools in the district at all three levels, elementary, middle and high schools are at more than 85 percent capacity and have little room for the growth the expected continuing swell in population will bring, which currently suggests almost 1,000 additional students over the next 10 years. (Dist. One currently has almost 12,000 students).
He added that areas of South Carolina that already have impact fees growth has not slowed.
The impact fees will not fully fund the need for expansion in the district.
“I agree this will help tremendously, but you are still going to have to sell bonds or find other ways to raise funds,” said Anderson County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn.
Binnicker agreed, adding that the schools are going have to be built no matter the funding methods.
The South Carolina Act 388 is being blamed for much of the shortfall in the district. The act, which shifted funding from homeowners to a statewide penny sales tax has, according to Binnicker, cost his district $25 million per year.
Anderson County Councilwoman Cindy Wilson, whose family has owned property in the school district for more than 100 years praised the school district for it’s thrift.
“The district spends one of least amounts per students in the state and is still one of the top districts,” Wilson said. “My hat’s off to ya’ll.”
Wilson added that the demand for families seeking to live in the district is being “slammed” by people from Greenville wanting to live in the area.
Anderson County Councilman Ray Graham expressed concerns about other districts following suit with impact fees.
“If one does it, the others are going to follow suit, because it's another way to raise revenue,” Graham said. “I understand the importance of education, but I am not sure this is the way to do it.”
“We've got to figure out to finance this growth,” said Anderson County Councilman Jimmy Davis who represents the county district that is home to school district one.
“The state law that provides this opportunity, and the limits in the way we can pay for (the growth),” said Davis.
The Anderson County Planning Commission will now consider the proposed impact fees and present their recommendation to the full county council. The measure would then need to pass three readings to become law.