Editorial: CBIA drops lawsuit

The Collier Building Industry Association has dropped its lawsuit against Collier County government's two-year-old impact fee for the expansion of government buildings.

Too bad.

Of all the county's impact fees, which we generally support and help growth pay for growth, this is the one that ought to be scrapped. Though the dollar amount is small — less than $300, amid nine other impact fees totaling about $30,000 for a new, 2,000-square-foot house — the principle is huge.

Levying fees to go toward more offices and equipment can become a self-fulfilling prophesy that government will in fact expand — and the ongoing costs of keeping it staffed and running, and growing, will gnaw at our taxes.

Yet, the CBIA has decided it would rather have its officers again eligible for membership on county government advisory boards — a privilege precluded for those who choose to sue the county.

It must be a good rule, because the CBIA has argued for enforcing it upon others, including environmentalists, in the past.

So, the county's impact fee which we fear will assure government exerts a greater impact, forges ahead.

Sigh.