citizens' committee studying the idea of charging

developers a special tax to pay the costs of new

county services that their developments require

hopes to have a recommendation for the County

Commission by December.

"They

may have something for the board in

December," said Chris Venice, Fayette's

chief planner.

The

group has narrowed from seven to three the list

of services that might be funded by "impact

fees," designed to recover the costs brought

on by the impact of new development.

"They've

narrowed it down to discussing fire, recreation

and libraries," said Venice.

State

law allows counties to charge impact fees for

four more services, but for each service funded

through the fees, he county must prove the impact

in dollars and cents.

For

fire service, recreation and libraries, committee

members are now working to define service areas,

inflation rates, levels of service and other

factors that will affect how much the county will

be able to charge developers.

Impact

fees are limited to the impact of the new

development. Developers can't be charged to

provide new services to existing residents.

"We're

making progress," said Venice.

The

committee currently is meeting Thursdays at 4

p.m. at the County Administrative Complex.