Development services warns of slowing permit revenue; county to absorb code‑enforcement team from sheriff

Jose Gomez, director of Development Services, told the board the department’s FY26 budget request is $10.98 million and that building and planning activity has declined, creating a potential shortfall in the building enterprise fund.

Gomez said the department’s reserves in the building fund stood at about $3.5 million and that they are projected to decline to about $2.3 million during the next fiscal year if current activity levels continue. "We haven't looked at our fees since 02/2019," Gomez said, noting fee adjustments as one tool to address a multiyear revenue decline.

The department is absorbing the county’s code‑enforcement program from the sheriff’s office; Jeks and Gomez said the transfer includes six FTEs and operating support. The county’s budget staff presented an initial consolidated all‑in figure for code enforcement of roughly $734,596 in personnel and operating costs in the development services budget, but said additional internal charges for fleet, information technology and capital will be added after internal service departments finalize those recharges.

Commissioners asked the sheriff’s office to provide an apples‑to‑apples historic comparison of code‑enforcement costs; Gomez and budget staff said the sheriff is working to compile those numbers, and that some previously reported sheriff totals did not capture all internal support costs. Gonzalez (sic) said the department is also scanning pre‑application activity and redevelopment interest and will coordinate with economic development to refine incentives and customer pathways for redevelopment.

What’s next: Staff will return with updated fee analyses, the finalized all‑in code‑enforcement budget including internal service charges, and ongoing projections for building fund reserves.