A development impact fee program provides an equitable means of providing infrastructure to accommodate new growth. Growth brings with it a need for improvements in parks, transportation, and public safety (police, fire, and emergency medical services). Through the comprehensive planning process, the citizens of Idaho Falls have conveyed a consistent message to city officials that expanding infrastructure to accommodate growth is critical.
Those who benefit from new growth and development pay a proportionate share of the cost of the new public facilities needed to serve new growth through impact fees – assessed at the building permit stage – rather than new growth being subsidized by existing taxpayers.