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Sampson County planning inspections director outlines tight 2024–25 budget, proposes modest fee increases
Summary
Planning & Inspections director presented a pared-down 2024–25 budget that keeps core inspection staff but limits operating funds; the department proposes small permit fee increases and asked for modest training support to certify inspectors.
The Sampson County Planning & Inspections director presented the department’s proposed 2024–25 budget, describing a $891,598 total proposal with roughly $109,272 available for operating expenses after payroll and benefits are removed. The director told commissioners the department is operating with five inspector positions authorized but currently has four filled; only one inspector is fully certified across all trades. The office proposed modest permit-fee increases and sought more funding for inspectors’ required training and updated codebooks.
The director proposed raising the flat residential permit from $75 to $80, and increasing fees that are charged by square footage — building fees from $0.25 to $0.30 per sq. ft., and plumbing/electrical/mechanical from $0.15 to $0.20 per sq. ft. Commercial permit fees would remain unchanged, the director said. The department also budgeted about $4,500 for codebooks if the 2024 code set is released.
Commissioners asked about contract services and cleanup funding. The director said contract services — largely Mid Carolina’s plan-review and site-plan review work — is the largest non-personnel line item at about $55,000; the department has used roughly $30,000 so far and historically runs $40,000–$45,000. The director explained the county fronts cleanup costs (for example, clearing large accumulations of trash at trailer parks) and then places liens on property when owners do not comply; he requested $10,000 in the contract services line to cover those advance cleanup expenses.
Commissioners pressed on where another 1–2% cut could be made; the director suggested trimming contract services if needed. The board agreed to reduce the department’s contract services by $1,500 to offset an increase given earlier in the meeting to veteran services. Commissioners also discussed cross-training front-desk staff across permitting, environmental health and other development services to reduce back-office delays and improve continuity when employees are out.
The director warned that certification training is a recurring pressure: travel and class expenses for inspectors were budgeted at $9,000, which allows roughly two training trips per inspector per year, and the county has a number of probationary inspectors who must complete classes to become fully certified. He said additional staff in permit processing would improve customer response times but acknowledged the county’s fiscal constraints.
The director closed by asking commissioners to weigh staffing growth against the county’s desire to hold headcount down in order to preserve capacity for future cost-of-living adjustments.
