As the City Administrator for Fountain Inn, I want to take a moment to explain a topic that’s been getting a lot of attention lately: Impact Fees. With rapid growth sweeping through our community, the City Council and Planning Commission are taking proactive steps to ensure we’re ready for the future—and this starts with responsible planning and sustainable funding.

On April 10, 2025, the Fountain Inn City Council unanimously approved a resolution directing the Planning Commission to begin studying a potential impact fee ordinance. This study isn’t just about today—it’s about tomorrow. It’s about ensuring, as our City grows, our quality of life, public safety, and access to parks and services grow with it.

What Are Impact Fees?

In short, impact fees are one-time charges collected from new developments when building permits are issued. These fees help cover the cost of capital infrastructure—like fire stations, parks, and police facilities—new residents and businesses will rely on. They are not taxes on existing residents, nor are they used for everyday maintenance or operations. Instead, they help make sure growth pays for growth.

Why Now?

Fountain Inn is experiencing a historic level of growth. Over the next decade, we expect our population to nearly double, with over 10,000 new residents and more than 5,000 new homes. While this growth brings exciting opportunities, it also puts pressure on our infrastructure—from emergency response times to recreational space to traffic flow.

The consideration of this ordinance responds to the rapid residential growth in our City and introduces impact fees as a vital tool to help pay for this new growth in a responsible and sustainable way.

The Process So Far

We’ve partnered with national experts, TischlerBise, to complete a Development Impact Fee Study and Capital Improvement Plan, both of which were approved by our Planning Commission at their April 17, 2025 meeting. These documents evaluate the financial impact of growth on three key areas: Parks, Police, and Fire services.

This study is rooted in fairness and legality. South Carolina’s Development Impact Fee Act (1999 Act No. 118) provides the legal framework, ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability. The law requires fees be proportional, used within three years, and only spent on growth-related capital needs.

What the Study Found

Here's a quick snapshot of the projected needs and potential fees over the next decade:

• Parks: With over 10,000 new residents expected, we’ll need an additional 21 acres of parkland and hundreds of park improvements. Fees collected would generate roughly $5.45 million to meet these needs.

• Police: As the population and daily traffic increase, so does the demand for our public safety infrastructure. Impact fees could bring in $2.63 million to maintain current service levels and build out additional space and equipment.

• Fire: Growth projections suggest we’ll need nearly 9 additional fire vehicles and thousands of square feet in station space—totaling an estimated $8.59 million in new costs. Fees are expected to contribute about $6.47 million toward those expenses.

These fees ensure new residents and businesses contribute their fair share toward the infrastructure they’ll use—without overburdening current taxpayers or sacrificing service levels.

What’s Next?

The Planning Commission has reviewed and recommended adoption of the impact fee study and capital improvement plan adoption to City Council. Should Council approve the ordinance in the coming months, it would establish a formal framework for collecting and using these fees going forward.

Let me be clear: Impact fees are not a silver bullet. They won’t fund every need or replace other important funding sources. But they are a smart, strategic part of our broader commitment to balanced growth, fiscal responsibility, and preserving the quality of life that makes Fountain Inn such a special place.

Thank you for your continued support as we navigate this exciting chapter in our City’s future. If you have questions or want to learn more about the process, please feel free to attend upcoming City Council meetings.

Shawn Bell is the City Administrator of Fountain Inn and an ICMA-Credentialed Manager. For more information, go to www.fountaininn.org, call 864-531-0644, or email shawn.bell@fountaininn.org.●