Officials in three fast-growing counties have unveiled plans calling for steadily increasing impact fees to pay for new school facilities.
Leaders in Channahon, Joliet, Minooka, Oswego, Plainfield, Romeoville and Shorewood have created the impact-fee schedule with the support of the Will-Grundy Home Builders Association. The plan would affect construction in western Will, northeastern Grundy and southeastern Kendall Counties.
The fees would provide a financial boost to Joliet Public School District 86, Joliet Township High School District 204, Minooka High School District 111, Minooka Grade School District 201, Oswego School District 308, Plainfield School District 202 and Troy Grade School District 30-C.
Will County executive Joseph Mikan endorsed the plan and predicted that other towns and schools in the county would use it.
Officials said the fees could generate $800 million for school districts to build facilities.
“This is a very meaningful first piece in solving our school-funding problem,” said James Satorius, board president of the Minooka grade school district.
City councils and village boards in the seven towns are to vote at upcoming meetings to adopt the fee schedule, which would be applied to any subdivisions approved after that point.
Officials said some new homes built this year and next would be charged the fee, and it would affect all construction in 2006 and beyond.
Under the plan, the fee for a four-bedroom home would increase to $4,640 next year from $2,640. Starting in 2006, it would go up 4 percent each year.
