HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. –  A developer fee is applied with every new construction permit and helps maintain roads, the sewer, schools and other essential services. 

​The Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners admit they have fallen behind on those services because of limited resources and have no choice but to collect the entire fee upfront. 

Last year the board agreed to give developers a break when fees increased, requiring only 80% initially and the balance (20%) would be paid in phases.  

This week commissioners revisited the issue and voted 5 to 2  to amend the ordinance and collect the money sooner rather than later. 

"The reason for getting the money upfront is so that concurrently the County can be doing the necessary improvements," Hillsborough County resident and business owner Mike Fabbro said. 

Fabbro says on average a new development project takes anywhere between two to three years to complete. 

Citizens of South Hillsborough County President Noelle Licor says  a new bill that would limit developer fees factored into the change.  Licor says county residents have been subsidizing construction improvements through their own tax dollars. 

"If passed it would cap the increase amount [money] at 3% a year which would make it hard for us to make up that 20%," Licor said. 

The amended ordinance will take effect in June. 

The Hillsborough Board of Commissioners also amended the park impact fee voting 5 to 2 to raise it from 50% to 75%.