In some communities, the collection of fees could be designated for specific purposes. The source of fees could be building permits or the revenue from land trusts. While this can be a volatile source of revenue, especially if the fees fluctuate with economic cycles, communities have found fee revenue to be a viable support for special projects or initiatives.

Currently, revenue from fees cannot be explicitly tied to early childhood services. The North Carolina General Assembly would need to allow local governments to collect fees for an expanded set of purposes that includes early childhood education.