ANOTHER REASON POLK COMMISSIONERS WILL BE ON THE HOT SEAT

Yesterday, I noted here that the controversy continues regarding the all-Republican Polk County Commission's apparant support for raising property taxes to support road construction and maintainence, libraries, and parks. The chairman of the Polk GOP is looking into the procedure for petitioning to recall the four commissioners who voted tenative approval for the first tax hike in 12 years; a final vote is scheduled this evening after another public hearing.

The hot seat just got a bit warmer Wednesday as the same four commissioners who have voted for the property tax hike voted to sharply increase the residential impact fees for schools. Polk's school impact fee just went from one of the lowest in the area --- $1,607 for a single family home --- to one of the highest at $8,596.

Opposition for the raise came from one of the strongest lobbying groups in the area, the Polk County Homebuilders Association. The county is experiencing tremendous growth, with a number of new and expanding developments either being built or in the planning stage. It certainly sounds as though this decision is heading toward litigation.