At the Oct. 8, 2025 Community Development Committee meeting, staff reported that inspection-division revenues are exceeding the 2025 budget as of the end of September, driven in part by several large commercial projects moving from planning into construction.

The presentation showed the inspections division with budgeted revenues of $1,031,000 for 2025 and receipts of about $906,000 through September, roughly 87% of the annual budget at that point. Staff attributed the uptick to a handful of large commercial projects entering construction, including RGL Logistics in the Southwest Industrial Park.

Committee member Alderperson Hartzheim asked why the building-permit receipts appear higher while the reported total estimated costs associated with permits are lower. A staff member said two factors influence those numbers: a fee adjustment in last year’s budget, and the fact that contractors self-report estimated costs when applying for permits. “Net new construction will be based on what the assessor values the building at,” the staff member said, explaining the difference between permit-reported costs and assessor-based valuation.

Staff also noted that permit issuance is variable from month to month and that large industrial or commercial projects can create significant swings. The department confirmed permits were issued across multiple divisions, including the fire department for related permitting needs.

No formal action was taken; the item was informational and committee members proceeded to review the larger Community Development Department budget.