The Daily Post had a piece this week that I have not seen elsewhere. Yesterday the County Supes were set to vote on a new "fee" for development on County land–meaning the unincorporated parts of the county. I believe that would include a good sized chunk of the hills that we call B'game. The rates proposed are:
— $15 per square foot for houses (that's $60K on a 4,000 sf house)
— $10 per square foot for hotels
— $25 per square foot for offices
These "housing impact fees" would supposedly go to "low-income housing". The $15 per sf housing fee was particularly asked about. County manager John Maltbie is quoted in the piece saying, "Yes, market rate homes address some of the housing need, but they create a need for new workers in the community: house cleaners, painters, landscapers, maintenance workers, service workers, teachers, mechanics….these workers are typically at wage levels too low to afford market-rate housing". Ugh. Econ 101 grade: F. Summer school reading recommendation: Adam Smith.
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