On Tuesday, the Raleigh City Council will consider raising impact fees on residential housing, commercial buildings and even churches that are being built.

Our housing market is in decline. Building permits for the city of Raleigh were down 46 percent for the first quarter. The market is receiving $100 million less for residential housing already this year. This could mean $300 million to $500 million less this year in residential growth for Raleigh. This alarming negative number will greatly diminish the flow of tax dollars on which the city depends to pay for existing services.

Doubling or tripling impact fees on houses will continue to drive the housing market into decline. If this passes, the impact fee on some houses will have increased 372 percent over two years. No business can continue to succeed with such outrageous increases.

Property taxes have remained low due to growth. Now, as efforts are made by the City Council to stop growth, property taxes are likely to go up substantially. Most citizens will see the full impact of these decisions when the tax bill comes due. Maybe instead we can tax garbage disposals to make up the difference.

Tim Minton

Executive vice president, Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County

Raleigh