District: News

Board Passes Impact Fee Resolution

Due to increased enrollment resulting from new developments

October 18, 2005

At its regularly scheduled October 27, 2005 meeting, the Meridian CUSD #223 Board of Education passed a resolution directing the superintendent to pursue a modification in the current Ogle County School Land Dedication (Impact Fee) Ordinance. The Meridian School District will also be joined by the other Ogle County school districts in pursuing a change in the ordinance. Currently, residential developers are required to pay a fee of $631 to the Meridian School District for the construction of a three bedroom home before a building permit is issued by the county. Under the proposal being recommended by Ogle County school districts, the fee for a three bedroom home would increase to $2,042. A four bedroom home would require a fee of $3,464. The Meridian School District experienced an enrollment increase of 96 students (5.34%) for the current school year. Since the fall of 2001, the district enrollment increased by nearly 300 students. The increase is attributed to the increasing residential developments within the district's boundaries.

The impact of the increased enrollment from new developments places significant financial and resource pressures on the school district. The property taxes from new construction is not received by the school district for sometimes up to 1 to 1 1/2 years after students are enrolled. Additionally, the state's funding formula does not count those students for the purposes of state aid until the school after they've enrolled. Consequently, there is a need for increased contributions from the developers to provide school districts with revenue to off-set the costs of increased enrollment.

The Meridian School Board is consider approving the resolution at the next regularly scheduled board meeting on Thursday, October 27, 2005. Please click here to see the resolution.