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Ithaca council OKs $30,000 municipal fee study to create cost-recovery framework
Summary
The council authorized up to $30,000 for a consultant to produce a fee-study framework to guide future fee-setting and cost-recovery decisions; funds will be split across funds and the work is intended as a high-level model rather than a detailed, fee-by-fee audit.
The Ithaca Common Council on March 12 authorized the city manager to contract for a municipal fee study with a budget of up to $30,000. The study is intended to produce a high-level cost-recovery framework and a model that city departments can apply to individual fees in later budget cycles.
City Manager Deb told the council the engagement would provide a “framework” and a cost-recovery model rather than a full, line-by-line analysis of every city fee. The contract price point discussed at the meeting was $30,000; staff proposed splitting the cost across the general fund, water and sewer funds to reduce the immediate impact on any single fund.
The council debated whether to hire an outside consultant or rely on in-house staff. Alderson Shapiro said he preferred relying on existing staff and declined to support the consultant contract. Others, including Alderson Keel and Alderson Nguyen, said a third-party specialist can offer an impartial assessment and identify fees the city might not currently charge. Alderson Keel described the $30,000 request as a small share of the overall budget and said he would support it.
Deb and other staff said the study would identify how to calculate direct, indirect and administrative costs, create a standard fee catalog and recommend a cost-recovery policy the council could adopt. The staff estimate for the time frame was roughly two to three months to produce the high-level framework, which could then inform departments’ fee submissions for the current budget season.
The motion was moved by Alderson Saint Perez and seconded by Alderson Keel. The council adopted the resolution unanimously.
Votes at a glance
- Resolution authorizing the city manager to contract for a municipal fee study (up to $30,000) — approved unanimously (mover: Alderson Saint Perez; second: Alderson Keel).
