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Community development budget grows for comp‑plan work and permitting; commissioners allocate $10,000 SHIP program income for heirs property assistance
Summary
Community Development staff told the county commission their proposed budget includes funding for a comprehensive plan amendment, additional floodplain contracting, permitting‑software costs and staffing changes.
Community Development staff told the Baker County commission that the department's proposed fiscal-year budget would rise primarily to cover a planned comprehensive plan amendment and new floodplain-management contracting needs, and to reflect ongoing personnel changes.
Staff said the comp‑plan amendment process is estimated at about $125,000 in consultant costs; the department applied for a $75,000 grant to offset most of that expense but had not yet received word on funding. If the grant is not awarded, staff said the county would be responsible for the remaining county share. Staff also described a $50,000 contingency to contract out substantial‑damage assessments related to floodplain management: county officials said several similar-size counties contract that portion out because it requires specialist assessments when major storms trigger the requirement.
Staff advised commissioners the department is moving to new permitting software and that the county has added modules for contractor registration and for CDBG/SHIP application processing. Staff said permitting and contractor‑registration fee changes enacted last July drove a large one‑time increase in permit revenues and that, year to date, permitting revenue is higher than prior years. Staff proposed continuing to adjust fees to better align revenue with the cost of running the department.
On SHIP and heirs-property work: after a discussion with staff and a representative from a non‑profit provider (LISC), commissioners agreed during the workshop to budget and set aside $10,000 from SHIP program income to fund legal- and probate‑related assistance (heirs‑property work) that helps low‑income homeowners clear title so they can qualify for SHIP assistance. Staff said SHIP program income currently shows about $69,000 available and that that program income could be used as the initial funding source; commissioners asked staff to run the formal budget entry paperwork so the allocation is available and auditable.
Ending: Staff will return with updates on the comp‑plan grant application outcome, a timeline for software implementation and a formal budget amendment or line‑item to capture the $10,000 SHIP program‑income allocation for heirs‑property assistance.
