Franklin County planning and building director proposes 2% technology fee, new grant-funded planner in 2026 budget

Franklin County Planning and Building Director Wes McCart told the Board of Commissioners at a budget workshop that he will propose adding a 2% technology fee to permit costs and seek new fee adjustments and staff positions as part of the 2026 budget.

McCart said the fee would apply to both planning and building permits and would “pay to get the training and the program and the technology developed and stay ongoing to get our SmartGov program to be out facing.” He told the commissioners the county’s IT budget already includes SmartGov licensing and some training dollars but that a small added charge on permits would support integration and ongoing staff training.

McCart said he raised his department’s revenue estimates relative to the 2025 adopted budget to be more realistic about permit receipts and noted building permits have flattened since 2023–24 but that he expects more residential development in 2026 tied to recent approvals. He told commissioners the building side’s current-year permit intake stood at about…