SB 5289, sponsored by Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D–Bellingham), gives cities the authority to charge for impact fees or law enforcement facilities and is scheduled for public hearing this week.

Impact fees can be charged to new development to pay for public facilities needed to serve new growth and development. Currently, cities and counties have the statuary authority to charge impact fees for:

• Public streets and roads
• Publicly owned parks, open space, and recreation facilities
• School facilities
• Fire protection facilities

This bill, if passed, would add law enforcement facilities to that list of options.

Dates to remember

SB 5289 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs Committee on Thursday, January 19 at 10:30 am.