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Land and Zoning committee says fee increases and staffing adjustments can meet levy reduction targets
Summary
The Land and Zoning committee recommended reducing a land conservation administrative assistant to 50% time, increasing private septic inspection fees from $25 to $50 and expects a possible register-of-deeds fee change to produce additional revenue; the committee said it can meet the resolution—s $50,000 target without referendum.
The Land and Zoning standing committee told the Finance and Personnel Committee it can meet the board—s $50,000 operational levy reduction target and cover anticipated personnel cost increases through a combination of staffing adjustments, fee changes and expected register-of-deeds revenue changes.
Supervisor Luck, presenting the committee—s response, said the committee analyzed the resolution language and determined the county must both reduce operational levy spending by $50,000 entering 2024 and account for projected increases in salary and benefit costs through 2027. To meet the immediate target, the committee recommended reducing a land conservation administrative assistant position to 50% time (with Parks currently paying 10% of that position) for a savings of $25,655.
The committee also proposed increasing the private septic-inspection fee from $25 to $50, a change that auditorily the committee estimated could generate about $45,000 in additional annual revenue. Supervisor Luck also reported that a pending statewide change to split register-of-deeds transfer fees more evenly between state and county could produce additional county revenue; the committee conservatively estimated $59,000 annually if a 50/50 split is restored.
The committee said other short-term staffing vacancies (open GIS and conservation technician positions) create interim savings and that combining land and zoning offices in shared courthouse space could create further efficiencies. Based on those measures, the committee concluded it did not need to place a land and zoning reduction on the referendum and could meet the directive.
The committee asked staff to continue exploring contract options for GIS services and to monitor statewide register-of-deeds fee legislation. No formal vote was recorded at the Finance and Personnel meeting on this committee response.
