Hopkinton's Planning Board is taking significant steps to enhance the town's growth management program by updating its impact fee structure. During a recent meeting, board members discussed the need to revise the existing impact fee, which currently only funds school capital expenses, to include municipal capital expenses as well.

The existing impact fee system, established over 20 years ago, requires a needs assessment to justify the fees collected. However, the town's current assessment only pertains to the school district. To address this gap, the Planning Board is working on two key initiatives: updating the needs assessment with current data and creating a secondary impact fee specifically for municipal capital projects.

This new fee structure aims to establish two distinct funding sources: one for school-related expenses and another for municipal needs. The proposed changes will allow the town to better allocate resources and respond to community growth effectively. The current impact fee is calculated based on the anticipated impact of new residents on school services, rather than the value of the property being developed.

Board members emphasized the importance of transparency and community involvement in this process. They are committed to keeping stakeholders informed as they refine the proposal before presenting it to the town council for approval.

The Planning Board's efforts to modernize the impact fee system reflect a proactive approach to managing Hopkinton's growth and ensuring that both educational and municipal needs are adequately funded. As these changes move forward, residents can expect a more balanced and responsive funding mechanism that supports the town's development.