On Election Day, the Citrus County Commission put a final deadline on the suspension of transportation impact fees.

While Citrus County voters were out casting ballots, the county commission decided to set the fee deadline for June 1, 2011. That means transportation impact fees, suspended since 2009, will be reinstated at that time.

The county had suspended the impact fees in the hope that the lower fees would attract more businesses to the county and stimulate building. Neither businesses nor housing showed a significant effect as a result of the lowering of the fees.

The county first lowered the fees on Jan. 25, 2007, said Development Services Director Vince Cautero, and again in 2009. Cautero added that there was no increase in business nor housing.

County Commissioner Joe Meek too issue with those conclusions, noting that the declining economy also had a suppressing effect in those areas.

County Commissioner Winn Webb said, "We're not going to spend our way out of this." He said that Citrus County, for the first time, had homeless families living here. "Roads are important," he said, noting the need for the impact fees to resume again. "Let's face it, impact fees are taxes. We need to set something in stone and pray for the economy."

County Commissioner Dennis Damato said the fees were necessary for work on County Road 486, and that he would not favor extending the suspension of the fees.

Meanwhile, the county staff must have a revised impact fee ordinance ready for commission approval by June 1, 2011. If the commission approves it, it will take three months to take effect from that date.