Latest news with #Kamp
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Is development ‘out of control?' A Florida county wants developers to pay more
As development booms in Florida, leaders in one Gulf Coast county want to start charging builders millions more to pay for issues caused by growth. Manatee County ommissioners have reviewed a plan to raise impact fee rates for local development to the maximum allowed by state law. The one-time fees collected from developers help pay for infrastructure like new roads, water and sewer utilities, schools, parks, libraries and emergency services. Manatee County's past handling of impact fees has drawn criticism from some residents and officials, who say that Braenton-area developers aren't paying their fair share for problems caused by rapid building. Last year, commissioners had a chance to revisit the fees. But rather than seeking substantially higher rates, they chose to approve a moderate increase of 50% over four years. They also chose to base the increase off of rates set in 2015 rather than using updated figures — a move critics said would result in millions of dollars of impact fees going uncollected. But after November's election brought a shift in policy to the county commission, leaders have moved forward with a plan to significantly update and raise the fees. They contracted an engineering firm, Benesch, to complete a study showing that Manatee County meets the 'extraordinary circumstances' needed to do so under state law. While residents have shown broad support for the hike in impact fees, some local developers are not happy. They showed up at a recent Land Use Meeting to protest the county's plan. Now commissioners are set to hold a final vote on a fee increase. Manatee County moves to raise fees on development In 2021, state legislators created extra steps that local governments must take to raise impact fees by more than 50%. First, counties must order a study showing that 'extraordinary circumstances' exist to justify a fee increase. Then, the county must hold two public workshops to discuss it. Manatee County commissioners held those workshops on May 7 and May 8. Finally, five of seven board members must approve the fee increase. State law does not define what counts as 'extraordinary circumstances,' but local governments around Florida have successfully used the language to raise fees. Nilgun Kamp, a principal associate with Benesch, said legitimate reasons to raise fees include rapid growth, higher infrastructure costs and unfunded infrastructure needs. Local governments can also adjust fees that are outdated or 'artificially low' due to past policies, Kamp said. Kamp said Manatee County checks all of those boxes as it experiences one of the highest levels of population growth and development in the state. During a presentation to commissioners, Kamp said Manatee ranks 12th of Florida's 67 counties for projected growth rate, with 159,000 new residents expected to arrive by 2050. While the county ranks 15th in population, it ranks 8th in permits issued for new housing, Kamp's presentation noted. 'This is all to say, you're a large county, growing rapidly,' Kamp said. 'You're ranking ... top 20% of all counties in terms of your growth levels.' Increase could double Manatee's impact fee revenue At the current rates, Manatee County collects around $63 million per year in impact fee revenue. With maximum fees, the county could more than double that number, Kamp said. The Benesch study projects that Manatee County could collect, at maximum, $119 million to $153 million per year with updated rates. For example, under the current rates, a developer pays about $14,000 in impact fees for a 1,700-square-foot home. Under the proposed rates, that amount would increase by 133% to around $33,000. The extra funding would help expand public safety programs, law enforcement, libraries, parks and transportation, the study says. Impact fees must be spent in the part of the county where they are collected and cannot be used to repair or maintain existing infrastructure. But they can be used to expand existing infrastructure capacity, such as adding additional lanes to a road. Developers criticize impact fee hike Developer Pat Neal of Neal Communities started public comment with accusations that the board's public hearings about the impact fee increases were poorly advertised. 'I do think there'll be some legal controversy because this is so different than the decision made by the board (last year),' Neal said. Neal argued that higher impact fees will increase home prices by thousands of dollars and have a negative impact on first-time home buyers. He said the county should look at other sources of money to upgrade infrastructure. 'As I have said many times, there are lots of other sources of revenue for transportation. We kind of feel ... that you're punishing the building industry,' Neal said. 'We ask that you be careful with what you do.' As an example, Neal argued that the proposed impact fees would result in a $20,000 price increase for buyers of SimplyDwell Homes, a subsidiary of Neal Communities with average home prices in the mid $300,000 range. The developer said he does not oppose impact fees, but asked the county to rethink the rates. 'We'd like you to consider this more gently,' Neal said. Over a dozen employees of Neal Communities and SimplyDwell Homes also spoke during public comment to oppose the impact fee increase. Local land use attorney Ed Vogler, who recently spoke against the board's move to restrict development in East Manatee County, spoke against the impact fee increase on behalf of the Suncoast Builders Association. The association has advocated for other development-friendly policies, including the reduction of Manatee County's wetland protections. 'The policy of increasing impact fees does nothing to improve the quality of life of current residents that live in the core of our community. This is an unbalanced approach,' Vogler said. Vogler also claimed that the move to raise impact fees could violate state law, an argument that developers have recently used to oppose other county policies aimed at reining in growth and protecting the environment. Residents support higher fees for developers Eight residents called in to support raising impact fees, citing concerns about the strain that rapid growth has placed on the county's traffic, schools, utilities and safety. 'The market is already stagnating ... because we are overselling at providing a lot of these so-called quality homes,' Dalton Nelson said. 'The infrastructure has to catch up ... we have to raise the impact fees now in order to slow things down enough so that we can address a lot of these backlog issues.' 'We all know the impact fees need to be raised. We are driving on roads that are not made for all the traffic,' Myakka City resident Heidi Minihkeim said. 'These developers have been getting a free ride for a long time. It needs to stop.' 'We have had astronomical growth here. I don't think it's sustainable long term,' Matt Woods said. Commissioners debate impact fees Several commissioners expressed concerns that a sharp hike in impact fees could scare away businesses from building in Manatee County, from day care centers to manufacturing. Commissioner Mike Rahn said he would like to get more feedback from the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation before moving forward with an increase. 'The percentages across the board are astronomical on these impact fees,' Rahn said. 'With fees like this, I don't think that businesses are going to relocate to Manatee County,' Commissioner Amanda Ballard said. 'They'll see our numbers and they'll go to Hillsborough or Sarasota.' Ballard pointed to figures in the study showing that the cost of impact fees to build a 4,000-square-foot day care facility would be around $100,000. 'How can we exempt or discount for industries that we need and want to attract to the county?' Ballard asked. County staff responded that there are ways to discount or adjust impact fees for projects that are deemed beneficial to the community. For example, state law allows some impact fee exemptions for affordable housing projects. Commissioner George Kruse argued that the board can later look at ways to lower impact fees for certain types of development. 'We've had the ability to take these schedules and modify them,' Kruse said. 'The issue is, we haven't increased these since 2015. These were under-collected for 10 years.' Kruse said that developers' arguments about higher impact fees hurting housing affordability are disingenuous. 'You're not trying to build affordable. You're trying to build with the maximum profit margin you possibly can. Don't come to me and ask me to help subsidize your profit margin. This is a cost of business,' Kruse said. Other commissioners also spoke in favor of the fee increase, arguing that low impact fees have resulted in the county taking on debt to pay for infrastructure needs. 'This community has grown so far out of control that people are having problems living here now,' Commissioner Robert McCann said. 'We've been tasked out on this board to take care of the county's business, and to make sound business decisions, just like Mr. Neal,' Commissioner Jason Bearden said. 'We're not in the business of losing money. The taxpayers are not in the business of continuing to pay more and more taxes for the unsupported growth that is happening in this county. People that live in West Bradenton shouldn't have to be paying for the roads in east county.' 'This is something that we have to do,' Commissioner Carol Ann Felts said. 'The pendulum swung too far in one direction for too long.' 'I'm in support of moving this forward,' Commissioner Tal Siddique said. 'We are facing extraordinary circumstances. We can't just keep putting on more and more debt for future generations to pay it off.' What happens next? The commission is set to vote on the impact fee increase at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 5, during a Land Use Meeting in the commission chambers at 1112 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton. The meeting can be watched live on the county's YouTube channel. If approved, the new fees would go into effect in 90 days, according to the county.
Campaign ME
08-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Khaleej Times appoints Ted Kemp as Chief Content Officer
Khaleej Times has announced the appointment of Ted Kemp as its new Chief Content Officer. The addition to one of the UAE's longest-standing English-language newspapers's leadership bench comes in an effort to keep pace with the region's rapidly changing media landscape. With a sharper focus on digital storytelling, real-time coverage, and audience engagement, Kamp's appointment aims to continue to build stronger connections with a younger, increasingly diverse readership across the GCC and MENA. Charles Yardley, Chief Executive Officer of Khaleej Times, said, 'Ted's leadership will be instrumental as we accelerate our digital transformation and expand our reach across the GCC and MENA regions. His passion for journalism and innovative thinking make him an ideal fit for Khaleej Times.' A seasoned editorial leader with over two decades of experience in media and international journalism, Kamp has built a strong track record in driving strategic growth and expanding audiences. He most recently served as Editor of Moniify in Dubai, where he led a dynamic newsroom delivering content to millennial and Gen Z audiences across the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. Prior to this, he also served as Managing Editor at CNBC International, overseeing EMEA and APAC editorial operations from Singapore and delivering record-breaking digital audience growth. Mohammed Galadari, Co-Chairman and Group CEO, added, 'On behalf of Khaleej Times, I warmly welcome Ted. His extensive experience and forward-looking vision will be crucial as we continue to redefine excellence in content creation. Together, we look forward to shaping the future of journalism and delivering compelling narratives that resonate with our diverse audiences.' In his new role, Kemp will lead the Khaleej Times newsroom, and has been tasked with championing the title's commitment to journalism, and spearheading innovation across editorial functions. Khaleej Times says his appointment comes at a pivotal time for the brand, which claims to be currently reaching the largest audience in its history. Readers under the age of 35 now account for 40 per cent of Khaleej Times' audience, with growth largely driven by its KT Plus platform. Commenting on his appointment, Kemp said 'It's the professional opportunity of a lifetime to join Khaleej Times, an organisation that has gained universal esteem over the years. It's not just the brand's rich heritage that excites me – it's the future. Khaleej Times stands as one of the most powerful and trusted news outlets in the most dynamic region on the planet. The editorial team holds in its hands the opportunity not only to reflect the UAE and the wider region, but to help define it. That's what inspires me.'
Campaign ME
07-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Khaleej Times appoints Ted Kamp as Chief Content Officer
Khaleej Times has announced the appointment of Ted Kamp as its new Chief Content Officer. The addition to one of the UAE's longest-standing English-language newspapers's leadership bench comes in an effort to keep pace with the region's rapidly changing media landscape. With a sharper focus on digital storytelling, real-time coverage, and audience engagement, Kamp's appointment aims to continue to build stronger connections with a younger, increasingly diverse readership across the GCC and MENA. Charles Yardley, Chief Executive Officer of Khaleej Times, said, 'Ted's leadership will be instrumental as we accelerate our digital transformation and expand our reach across the GCC and MENA regions. His passion for journalism and innovative thinking make him an ideal fit for Khaleej Times.' A seasoned editorial leader with over two decades of experience in media and international journalism, Kamp has built a strong track record in driving strategic growth and expanding audiences. He most recently served as Editor of Moniify in Dubai, where he led a dynamic newsroom delivering content to millennial and Gen Z audiences across the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. Prior to this, he also served as Managing Editor at CNBC International, overseeing EMEA and APAC editorial operations from Singapore and delivering record-breaking digital audience growth. Mohammed Galadari, Co-Chairman and Group CEO, added, 'On behalf of Khaleej Times, I warmly welcome Ted. His extensive experience and forward-looking vision will be crucial as we continue to redefine excellence in content creation. Together, we look forward to shaping the future of journalism and delivering compelling narratives that resonate with our diverse audiences.' In his new role, Kamp will lead the Khaleej Times newsroom, and has been tasked with championing the title's commitment to journalism, and spearheading innovation across editorial functions. Khaleej Times says his appointment comes at a pivotal time for the brand, which claims to be currently reaching the largest audience in its history. Readers under the age of 35 now account for 40 per cent of Khaleej Times' audience, with growth largely driven by its KT Plus platform. Commenting on his appointment, Kamp said 'It's the professional opportunity of a lifetime to join Khaleej Times, an organisation that has gained universal esteem over the years. It's not just the brand's rich heritage that excites me – it's the future. Khaleej Times stands as one of the most powerful and trusted news outlets in the most dynamic region on the planet. The editorial team holds in its hands the opportunity not only to reflect the UAE and the wider region, but to help define it. That's what inspires me.'
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Easterseals Community Rally 2025: Day 1
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Volunteers were taking calls on Monday for the first day of the Easterseals Community Rally Telethon. The community rally will raise money and awareness for children with disabilities. As part of the Rally, Easterseals will be holding a telethon from April 21 through 25. Easterseals Walk Run Rally kicks off week long Community Rally Martha Kamp with CEFCU said it's important for them to give back to organizations like Easterseals that do so much good for the community. 'They are doing so much good work for kids, for families, for adults, and the work is so meaningful and so important and they are helping to build stronger lives through the work that they do at Easterseals,' Kamp said. Those who want to donate can call (309) 688-2022 during the telethon or go to the Easterseals website. This story will be updated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tampa Bay area businesses, economists share potential impacts of tariffs
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — New U.S. tariffs kicked in today on Canadian, Chinese and Mexican imports. President Donald Trump has said the tariffs are meant to address fentanyl and other drug trafficking, and illegal immigration. But Tampa Bay area businesses and everyday people are expected to feel the impact with higher prices. Tampa Steel & Supply in Ybor City is a major metal supplier for the area. 'We service about 3,500 customers in the Bay area. We essentially stock and inventory all that material it comes mostly domestically, but we do get some stuff that's imported from different parts of the world. Then we cut that to the sizes that our customers need,' said Troy Underwood, CEO/Owner of Tampa Steel & Supply. Underwood said he's closely preparing and managing his inventory. In recent weeks he's already seen prices going up. 'In the last two weeks we've had increases from our domestic mills,' said Underwood. So how will other Tampa Bay area businesses and consumers be impacted by the tariffs? 'Domestic producers of those products they get to sell at a higher price, so that means they get to sell more, that means that their profits will go up, that means they can hire more, they'll produce more so they will hire more people. That's a positive,' said Brad Kamp, USF Associate Professor of Economics. 'The negative is, people have to pay more for it.' Kamp said the price for in-season produce will likely increase in the coming days. 'We import a lot of our fruits and vegetables from Mexico, particularly this time of year. the perishable things like those, you'll probably see those go up in price fairly quickly,' said Kamp. Prices on other items like lumber and vehicles will likely increase in the coming months, according to Kamp. 'I've seen ranges for car prices increase anywhere from $2,500 to upwards of $12,000. So that's probably where we're going to see the biggest hit,' said Kamp. 'It's been about 20% so far,' Underwood said when asked how much of an increase he is seeing so far. 'We have to pass those on. You know and that's just an unfortunate thing. As we get replacement material we're having to increase those costs and increase that pricing and pass it on to our customer, who's then passing it on to their customer,' said Underwood. Experts say tariffs will have the greatest impact on the poor. 'From a pure welfare standpoint, tariffs lower welfare. The loss to consumers eventually becomes more than the gains of the producers,' said Kamp. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
