At its April 7, 2025 meeting, the York County Council gave final approval to an ordinance establishing new public education impact fees for all new residential development within the Fort Mill School District (District No. 4). The ordinance sets the impact fee at $29,640 per single-family detached home and $20,796 per multifamily unit, making it one of the highest school impact fees in the state.
The fee structure, which passed on its third and final reading, is based on a capital improvements plan developed by the Fort Mill School District and a supporting impact fee study. The goal is to help fund construction and expansion of school facilities required to serve the rapidly growing student population in Fort Mill.
According to the ordinance, the fees will be imposed on all new residential development within the district’s boundaries. The funds collected will be used exclusively to maintain the district’s level-of-service standards for public education facilities as defined in the capital plan.
Council’s approval also authorizes an intergovernmental agreement between York County and the Fort Mill School District, which outlines the procedures for collecting, managing, and allocating the fees.
Public Comments Highlight Support and Concerns
The impact fee discussion drew multiple speakers during the public forum. Some residents and developers voiced support for the fees, citing the need for school funding amid continued population growth in eastern York County. Others raised concerns about transparency and affordability.
Michael Pruner, president of the York County Home Builders Association, urged Council to delay a vote until additional documentation was made public. He cited the absence of the legally required affordable housing impact analysis from the published materials, stating, “That document has not been made public before a public hearing … how do we know what affordable housing is?”
Pruner also pointed to unfulfilled promises of tax relief made during the adoption of a previous school impact fee in 2018, referencing examples where projected tax reductions for property owners did not materialize.
Despite the concerns, other residents spoke in favor of the full impact fee amount, emphasizing the need to adequately fund school infrastructure in a fast-growing area.
Background and Implementation
The new fees follow similar efforts in recent years to manage the strain on Fort Mill schools due to rapid residential development. Fort Mill has experienced some of the highest growth rates in the state, and the district has consistently faced overcrowding challenges.
The ordinance was advanced through public hearings and multiple readings. It builds on York County’s existing impact fee procedures, as outlined in Ordinance No. 2718. With third reading approval, the fees are now authorized for implementation.
The effective date for the new impact fees has not yet been publicly announced, but they will apply only to new residential construction, not to existing homes or commercial properties.
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