People conduct their lives in a regional fashion, but government is often not set up to address that reality. Roads travel across jurisdictions. Water and sewer systems don’t end at municipal borders. School districts traverse boundaries, too.

That’s why it is important that consistent rules and regulations be applied – when possible – to further a common regional agenda and to head off potential unfairness.

The Spokane Regional Transportation Council is studying impact fees to mitigate some of the costs of road improvements caused by commercial and residential developments. The cities of Spokane and Spokane Valley are already compiling traffic data. An advisory committee is far enough along in Spokane to issue a recommendation to the mayor next month.

The first question is whether such fees should be assessed. With dwindling state and federal sources for transportation money, governments have to look locally for funds. And since the improvements are caused or hastened by new development, there is a logical connection in charging impact fees, which are allowed under the state’s Growth Management Act.

However, it’s important for the region to avoid a patchwork of fees that vary inside each jurisdiction, because that would raise the possibility of, say, Spokane Valley paying an unfair share to improve Sullivan Road rather than the county – or vice-versa.

It’s important to note that while impact fees make sense, they will not cover the full cost of traffic improvements. By state law, they cannot be used to fix road problems that existed before development. The fees must have a direct and proportional relationship to new construction. In short, they are not a cure-all.

Another thorny issue is whether impact fees should be assessed for schools.

The Central Valley School District has been practically begging for Liberty Lake, Spokane Valley and the county to do so. District officials attribute last year’s failure of a bond issue for two much-needed schools to voter anger over the lack of impact fees in rapidly growing areas.

Thus far, Liberty Lake is all for it. Spokane Valley is on the fence. The county has shown the least amount of interest. As with roads, governments may have little choice if the state doesn’t provide adequate money to keep pace with population gains.

If such fees become necessary, we hope all jurisdictions agree to act in unison.