Not a no-impact vote

As reported in the Nov. 14 article "Newcomers unlikely to shift Wake's direction," the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County asserts that the Nov. 7 elections settled the matter on impact fees. Hardly.

Impact fees have wide citizen support as a fair way to help growth pay for itself. As recently as October, 71 percent of likely Wake voters polled stated clearly that they support impact fees on new home construction to pay for schools, planning, drinking water and landfills (poll by Public Policy Polling).

Furthermore, the election was not about impact fees. The Wake County commissioner races were really battles between underfunded first-time candidates and candidates with high name recognition and significantly more campaign funding from special interests, like the homebuilders.

Fortunately, by passing the school bonds, voters demonstrated that they understand the need to pay for the costs that come with growth -- such as building new schools. However, sources other than property taxes should pay for those bonds. If not, when the next bond referendum arises taxpayers may not be willing to step up to the plate again with higher property taxes.

Is it time now for the costs of sprawl to stop coming out of pockets of those who have been paying all along?

Karen Rindge

WakeUP Wake County

Raleigh