The Adams County Planning and Zoning Committee reviewed a draft 2026 budget for the department that increases expected building-permit revenue, raises contracted-building-inspection expenses and adds a new line for dog-license collections tied to contracted animal control services.

Staff reported estimated building-permit revenue rising from $150,000 to $200,000, with a corresponding paid-out contract cost to the county’s contracted building-inspection provider (General Engineering) estimated at $180,000. County staff said the department will retain roughly 10% of permit fees and remit 90% to the contractor under the current agreement. Staff also added a new expense line of about $40,000 to reflect a contract for dog-license collections and stray-dog handling with the local humane society.

Health-insurance costs were adjusted in the draft from an assumed 9% to 9.5% increase. Other changes included reclassifying a part-time position to full time, which contributed to a higher wages total in the draft.

Committee members asked for additional information before finalizing the budget. John asked for a historical comparison showing what it cost the county to operate an in-house building inspector versus contracting the service; staff agreed to work with the county administrator to provide past compensation and budget figures. Committee members raised scheduling and staffing concerns and said contracting can mitigate continuity risks when individual inspectors are unavailable.

Dusty and another staff member explained the NR 135 and reclamation-review processes elsewhere in the meeting context, and staff noted that general-engineering’s pool of inspectors provides backup coverage and shorter commercial plan-review timelines than state review in several cases. No committee vote was held; staff presented the budget for committee review and comment.