As Milton gears up for new development, the local government is hashing out the details of how it will ask developers to chip in for community infrastructure. Yesterday, Milton's city leaders put their heads together to discuss the updated Impact Fee Schedule, a necessary tool that could see financial contributions from developers put towards the betterment of city facilities and services like roads, parks, and city buildings. These discussions are a precursor to actual policy change; according to city officials, no official decisions could be locked down during the meeting as it was but the first of two State-required public hearings.
In what was described as a pre-vote temperature check, Mayor Peyton Jamison and Councilmembers mulled over proposed rates and timings for the implementation of the new fees. It was a concord of opinions—Jamison backed the imposition of maximum fees allowable by the State, and the council nodded in agreement. When to pull the trigger was also on the table, with Jamison advocating for a January 1 start date, again finding support from his colleagues. These discussions are expected to shape the final version of the ordinance, which will face an official vote come the council's August 5 meeting.
Before this deliberation took place, the meeting kicked off with other city business, including passing a construction contract for the next phase of enhancements at Milton City Park and Preserve, as well as several partnership agreements. One such deal was with Premier Events to manage logistics and vendor support for the upcoming Crabapple Fest, set for October 5.
Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill presented a slate of long-term financial projections for the City's expenditures. The forecast includes expected bumps in several area budgets, from new vehicles to a $75,000 increase for Milton Fire-Rescue's advanced life support line and a quarter of a million dollars earmarked for a water line between the Public Works yard and Birmingham Park. Harvill plans to unpack a fully fleshed-out FY 2025 budget in the next council session on August 12, laying the groundwork for a September 16 adoption.
