Board takes public comment on proposed fee changes for building, animal control and utilities

New Kent County staff presented proposed amendments to Appendix A of the county code and proposed a new Appendix B to consolidate public‑utility fees at the April 14 meeting. The board held public hearings on both proposals; no adoption votes were taken this meeting.

Key proposed changes in Appendix A include: increasing the initial dangerous-dog registration from $50 to $150 with an annual renewal of $85 (state share portions of these fees were discussed); raising residential building-permit fee calculation from $2.00 to $2.25 per $1,000 of assessed value and changing the assumed construction-value basis from $125 per square foot to $150 per square foot; adjustments to zoning verification and private-event fees were also proposed. Staff noted some cost‑recovery fees are driven by outside insurance providers and that certain fee components are set by state requirements.

In Appendix B (public-utility fees) staff proposed a 4% increase to water and sewer user fees. New fees would include a plan-review fee for major utility assets (pumping stations, elevated tanks), a hydrant-flow testing fee, an expedited plan-review fee ($500), and clarified charges for large domestic meters (4‑inch and 6‑inch meter installation fees) so developers can better predict costs. Staff said connection and availability fees are not changing.

Supervisors asked about the revenue role of fee increases in supporting the public-safety pay plan and the county’s overall budget. Staff confirmed that some fee increases will contribute to general fund revenue and the broader budget, noting that fee revenue projections cover only a portion of the public-safety pay plan’s estimated $1.1 million cost and that insurance companies often pay many emergency-service billing charges.

The board opened and closed the public hearings with no votes; staff will return with final ordinance language and cost estimates as part of the May budget process.