Clover School District impact fee passes at $8,000
YORK COUNTY - York County Council approved an impact fee for Clover School District on Dec. 15, setting the amount at $8,000 for single-family homes, with multi-family dwellings and manufactured homes assessed pro rata. The vote passed 6-1, though the amount fell short of the district’s requested $15,035.
The ordinance applies to the entire district after the Urban Service Boundary limitation was dropped due to legal concerns. The decision followed an executive session for legal advice and floor discussion that revealed deep divisions among council members.
How the Vote Unfolded
District 2 representative Andy Litten initially moved to approve the full $15,035 amount for the entire district, with a second from District 6 representative Watts Huckabee. However, District 4 representative William “Bump” Roddey proposed an amendment to reduce the fee to $8,000, which District 7 representative Deb Cloninger seconded.
Litten acknowledged the difficult position, stating he truly believes the district has done its due diligence and should receive the full amount. However, he recognized the support wasn’t there and that a reduced fee was better than nothing.
District 1 representative Tom Audette moved to defer the vote until Jan. 20, hoping to revive the Urban Service Boundary solution, but that motion failed. District 3 representative Tommy Adkins said he would support $8,000 even though he disagrees with impact fees in principle, citing concerns about families paying for schools they won’t attend.
Huckabee argued the district met all legal requirements and deserved the full amount, stating the criteria were clearly spelled out in state law.
Chairwoman Christi Cox cast the lone dissenting vote, expressing disappointment that the district and the council could not work together to find a better solution.
Arguments That Shaped the Debate
Leading up to the vote, Litten and Huckabee emphasized that growth should pay for growth. Litten explained: “If my family expands and I need a couple of additional rooms, I don’t go to all my neighbors and ask them, ‘Hey, give me money so that I can add them to my house.’ I have to fund the whole thing.”
Both representatives argued that existing homes are already accounted for in the school system’s capacity, so current residents shouldn’t pay for infrastructure necessitated by new growth. Huckabee stated, “I don’t think it’s our job as council members to make that determination,” regarding specific district expenditures. “I think we’re in the weeds a little too much, quite frankly.”
Litten reported receiving 90% positive community feedback supporting the fee. During the public hearing, many citizens and school officials argued the full fee was necessary to adequately fund school facilities.
Opposition Concerns
Roddey maintained his opposition throughout, arguing it’s unfair for people to pay impact fees for schools their children won’t attend. He also cited concerns about median income differences between Clover and Fort Mill, and accused the school district of providing unclear or contradictory information.
Several council members raised concerns about housing affordability, worrying that adding thousands of dollars to new home costs makes housing less accessible for working families. Some also voiced concerns about long-standing residents paying fees when building on family land.
Regarding alternative funding through increased taxes, Litten explained: “If we raise taxes, we push people that live here and may not be able to move, may not have the means to move, or may not want to move. We’re going to force them out of their houses by raising taxes. People that are moving in, they can make a choice.”
What This Means
The $8,000 impact fee will help fund growth-related infrastructure for Clover School District over the next five years, though it falls significantly short of what planning studies recommended and what the district requested.
