Lee County’s school impact fees are appropriately calculated and assessed – that’s according to a ruling Tuesday by a state appeals court. The fees are collected for every new home built in the county – and used for school construction. Judge James Seals—of the 2nd District Court of Appeals—upheld a lower court’s ruling… in a case filed by the Lee Building Industry Association in 2001. Reporter Charlie Whitehead has been covering the story for the Naples Daily News…

“The building industry challenged the fees after the county commissioners adopted them in 2001. The local circuit court upheld the methodology after a weeklong trial. The ruling Tuesday likely ends the appeals…it basically said we agree with the lower court…and gives attorney’s very little on which to appeal.”

The ruling means the fees stand – and the district won’t have to give back any of the money it collected while the trials unfolded. School impact fees add about $2200 to the cost of a new single-family home. They generated more than $30 million last year.