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Payson opens public hearing on 2025–26 fee schedule; residents question permit and consultation charges
Summary
The Town of Payson held a first public hearing April 9 on a proposed fees and charges schedule for fiscal 2025–26. Staff outlined several targeted changes, including jail and booking fees and proposed plan-review fees; residents raised questions about consultation fees, electrical/plumbing fixture charges and a $12,000 driveway bond.
The Town of Payson opened a public hearing April 9 on Resolution 304-438, the proposed fees and charges schedule for fiscal year 2025–26. No action was taken at the hearing; the council is scheduled to consider adoption at a later meeting, with changes to take effect July 1 if approved.
Town staff summarized the proposals and said only certain fees are being amended; others remain unchanged. Staff highlighted a handful of specific changes: a proposed increase in jail per-diem from $69 to $75, a proposed $75 booking fee, adjustments to impound rates to align with Arizona Revised Statutes and changes to plan-review/submittal fees intended to better cover inspection and review costs. Staff said the parks and recreation rental rates for certain Green Valley Park venues had an error in the materials and proposed correcting those rates to prior values.
During public comment and council discussion residents asked for clarification on several line items. Darlene Yonker Delage asked about electrical fees listed on page 7 of the schedule, pointing to an entry that reads, in part, "the first 20 fixtures are a dollar 10 each and additional fixtures are 75¢ each," and asked whether that charge would be assessed on top of a building permit. "Is this now on top of your permit?" Delage asked.
Town staff responded that the fixture counts are part of the existing fee schedule and, for single-family residential permits, fixture counts are generally included in the total building permit fee. "That fee is not being proposed for a change from the current fee schedule," the town manager said. The manager added that some smaller permit fees were raised because existing amounts (for example, a previously $24 submittal fee) did not cover the cost of plan review and inspections.
Other items discussed at the hearing included airport-related fees (the airport commission recommended lowering the flight-instructor business fee to $50 annually and waiving it if the instructor already pays an aircraft fee), and a referenced $12,000 bond associated with contractors who cut into town roadway to install driveways; staff said that bond is intended to protect the town if work is not completed.
Ending
The council closed the public hearing with no immediate vote. The council will consider the resolution adopting the updated fee schedule at a future meeting (staff said May 14 is the anticipated action date), with approved fee changes scheduled to take effect July 1.
