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Council directs spring fee-schedule update; staff to propose inflation bump for public safety fee
Summary
Talent staff will prepare a comprehensive fee schedule for council review this spring, with an initial, limited increase proposed for the public safety fee to account for inflation and clearer guidance for next year's larger public discussion on fee levels.
Talent staff told the council March 3 they will assemble a comprehensive fee schedule for review, starting with a targeted inflation adjustment to the public safety fee.
Tessa described planned work: "We are gonna be putting together a comprehensive fee schedule for council to see, and then we're gonna be comparing those fees to other municipalities here in Southern Oregon." Staff said the initial spring step is meant to provide clarity for this year's budget and to prepare for a more robust public process next year if council seeks larger increases that more fully recover public safety costs.
City Manager Alex and staff stressed they were not presuming a particular funding avenue for public safety—"we shouldn't... be presuming what the right funding solution is," Alex said—but that demonstrating need will be a priority if the council considers options that could include a property tax measure or alternative fees.
Councilors asked staff to develop a community-involvement plan and advisory structure for public outreach on any fee changes. Staff will return with fee comparisons, a proposed schedule and an initial recommendation to adjust the public safety fee for inflation.
