Proposed Madison impact fee draws mixed reactions

The City of Madison is considering adding almost 11,000 dollars to the cost of buying a new single family home

Almost 11 thousand dollars!

That's how much the city of madison is considering adding to the cost of buying a new single family home.

City leaders say the impact fees will pay for infrastructure and public safety.

But others worry it will scare away potential new residents.

Waay31's steven dilsizianjoins us live outside city hall... where there was a meeting to get input from residents.

There was a real mixed bag of reactions from madison residents tonight... many are truly concerned the additional thousands of dollars will price out middle income families and push people away from moving to the city.

Others said if the money fixes roads... its worth it.

Take sot: sha jarboe -huntsville area association of realtors "they're looking at a fee slightly under 11 thousand dollars for each new construction home built in area..

It could also impact additions, they are also talking about commercial, nursing homes, that sort of thing, too" sha jarboe is a realtor in madison county.

She thinks the proposed fee could impact new home buyers the proposed fee is almost 11 thousand dollars to people purchasing single family homes.... for multi family units... it would be more than 6 thousand dollars.... take sot: sha jarboe -huntsville area association of realtors "so that has a big effect, whether you are buying in an upper price range or lower price range, specifically we feel like it could effect the middle class trying to purchase a home in the city of madison" mayor paul finley said the fee could bring in 55 million dollars in revenue.... and help build the city.

Take a look at your screen take graphic: under the current proposal, this is how that money would be spent....with the majority going to improving roads, and parks and recreation.

Millions are still also going to first responders, the library, and public works.

But a city employee believes the fee will hurt future home and apartment construction projects take sot: mary beth broeren - director of development services "i do think that having an impact fee of the magnitude that's being discussed would have a very negative impact on those projects" maryanna scott lives in madison and is in favor of the new fee.

Take sot: maryanna scott - lives in madison "i feel that, current residents are going to have to pay for this growth in the future" but others are worried it hurts more than helps.

Take sot: barry oxley - lives in madison "what you're doing is, you're actually excluding that lower income person out of the market here" .

Other fees would be applied to hotels and even commercial development.

Tuscaloosa, orange beach, and fairhope alabama have impact fees, but madison's would be more expensive.

Live in madison -- sd -- waay31 news tonight's meeting was just to gather input.

The city council plans to