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County moves to clarify mobility fee proposal following public criticism
Nassau County on Friday issued a “Fact vs. Fiction” press release defending its proposal to sharply raise mobility and other impact fees, responding directly to growing public criticism and recent coverage questioning the scope and consequences of the increases.
The county’s statement follows a Fernandina Observer report detailing concerns raised by the Fernandina Beach Planning Advisory Board, which warned that the proposed mobility fee hikes could devastate redevelopment efforts in the city, discourage new housing and business investment, and amount to double taxation for city residents.
In its release, the county said misinformation has circulated despite multiple public workshops on the issue, prompting officials to formally clarify what impact and mobility fees are, how they are collected, and how the revenue can be used. County officials emphasized that impact fees are one-time charges paid by new development to fund infrastructure needed to support growth, arguing that without updated fees, existing taxpayers would shoulder the costs.
Among the points addressed, the county stated that cities are not required to collect county impact fees and may choose whether to do so through interlocal agreements.
The release also asserted that only one impact fee can be charged per infrastructure category and that Fernandina Beach currently collects only the mobility portion of the county fee, an agreement the city may amend or terminate.
The county also pushed back against claims that higher fees harm affordable housing or economic development, citing existing waivers and exemptions for qualifying projects.
Officials further argued that rising housing prices are driven primarily by market conditions rather than impact fees, noting that home prices increased significantly during years when county impact fees remained flat.
County leaders framed the proposed increases as necessary to address long-term growth pressures, pointing to projections showing Nassau County’s population nearly doubling by 2050. They also said higher impact fees would help avoid future property tax increases, contending that “growth should pay for itself.”
The fee proposal is scheduled for a public hearing at 9 a.m. next Wednesday at the James S. Page Governmental Complex in Yulee. County commissioners are expected to hear additional public comment before deciding whether to advance the ordinances for state review.
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JofusD
They (county leaders) also said higher impact fees would help avoid future property tax increases, contending that “growth should pay for itself.”
Really??? Please bring evidence of this to the public hearing. If this is true why do our property taxes continue to go up each year.?
Saturday, December 13, 2025 Report this
Douglas69
jofusD, your taxes are going up because your assessment goes up. While the actual tax mil rate may stay the same, and your assessed value goes up due to increasing property values, so does your out of pocket tax bill.
Saturday, December 13, 2025 Report this
Mark Tomes
Also, property taxes can go up every year because not all parts of them are subject to the cap imposed by the state.
Monday, December 15, 2025 Report this