The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors has raised fees on new homes while looking to cut commercial fees to spur economic growth. The board voted 3-2 yesterday to increase the county’s cash proffers almost 5 percent, to $18,966 from $18,080, keeping the county’s fees the highest in the region. Proffers are fees collected by the county from developers to help mitigate the impact of new residents on public infrastructure such as roads, schools and parks. The fees are paid at the time a building permit is issued, and the cost is typically handed down to homebuyers.

The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors this week could increase what are already the stiffest fees in the region on residential development. Tomorrow, the board will vote on a proposal to increase proffers to $18,966. That’s on top of last year’s decision by supervisors to adjust the proffer amount from $15,600 per home to $18,080—a move to account for inflation, according to Allan Carmody, the county’s budget director.

Richmond’s population growth is slight and its land largely developed, but officials are still eyeing a tool used by fast-growing counties to pay for schools, roads and other facilities. The City Council’s finance committee wants to study whether Richmond should seek cash proffers—payments offered by developers and others when land is rezoned for residential uses.