School Trustees Raise Fees on Building of Homes

Faced with the choice of raising developer fees to build new schools or being overwhelmed by growing enrollment, Orange Unified School District trustees have decided to do a little of both.

They voted 4-3 to raise developer fees for new homes in the district, but refused to increase rates for commercial building.

Trustees, who debated the politically unpopular issue during a public hearing Thursday, said the link between new homes and school expansion could be justified.

The hike in fees--from $1.56 to $1.84 per square foot for new homes--seemed especially steep because the trustees have not raised them in four years, even though state law allowed them to do so.

“We should have raised them two years ago,” lamented Trustee Bill Lewis, who voted for the increase.

A consultant’s report showed that the district’s current student body of 27,000 could increase by 2,600 by 2001. At least 500 of those students will come from the 1,300 new homes expected to be built during those years, consultant Don Wickert said.

“You’re looking at building a new school on the west side in two to three years and we have neither the land nor the money to do it,” Supt. Robert L. French said. “This will give you the means to do that.”

The residential rate hike should bring in about $4.4 million over the next five years, helping to offset the $6 million it will cost to build classrooms, Wickert said.

The state will also allow the district to raise fees on new commercial and industrial construction from 26 to 30 cents per square foot, which would total about $1.5 million in five years.

But trustees did not buy the theory that new businesses attract more families to the district.

“I support user fees,” said Trustee Max Reissmueller, who voted against raising either fee.

“What I don’t support is having people who are not using the service pay--that’s just another form of tax.”