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VII. SCHOOL IMPACT FEES <br />The GMA authorizes jurisdictions to collect impact fees to supplement funding of additional <br />public facilities needed to accommodate new development. Impact fees cannot be used for the <br />operation, maintenance, repair, alteration, or replacement of existing capital facilities used to <br />meet existing service demands or for the construction of new capital facilities used to remedy <br />existing deficiencies. <br />School Impact Fees <br />The Snohomish County General Policy Plan sets certain conditions for school districts wishing <br />to assess impact fees: <br />• The District must provide support data including an explanation of the calculation <br />methodology, a description of key variables and their computation, and definitions and <br />sources of data for all inputs into the fee calculation. <br />• Such data must be accurate, reliable and statistically valid. <br />• Data must accurately reflect projected costs in the Six -Year Financing Plan. <br />• Data in the proposed impact fee schedule must reflect expected student generation rates <br />from the following residential unit types: <br />1) single family; <br />2) multi-family/studio or 1 -bedroom; and <br />3) multi-family/2-bedroom or more. <br />The Snohomish County impact fee program requires school districts to prepare and adopt Capital <br />Facilities Plans meeting the specifications of the GMA. Impact fees are calculated in accordance <br />with the formula, which are based on projected school facility costs necessitated by new growth <br />and are contained in the District's CFP. <br />Methodology and Variables Used to Calculate School Impact Fees <br />Impact fees have been calculated utilizing the formula in the Snohomish County Impact Fee <br />Ordinance. The resulting figures are based on the District's cost per dwelling unit to purchase <br />land for school sites, make site improvements, construct schools and purchase/install relocatable <br />facilities (portables) that add capacity needed to serve new development. As required under the <br />GMA, credits have also been applied in the formula to account for State Match Funds to be <br />reimbursed to the District and projected future property taxes to be paid by the dwelling unit. <br />Site Acquisition Cost Element <br />1. Site Size - acreage needed to accommodate each planned improvement. <br />2. Average Land Cost Per Acre - based on estimates of land costs within the District. <br />20 <br />