Lake County awards contract to Economic & Planning Systems for impact-fee/infrastructure funding study

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners voted Dec. 30 to approve a professional services engagement with Economic & Planning Systems Inc. (EPS) to conduct an impact-fee nexus and infrastructure funding study, with the contract presented at $71,590 and subject to final legal review.

County staff told the board EPS previously completed Lake County's housing needs assessment and short-term rental work, and recommended the firm for continuity and technical capability. The original EPS proposal was for roughly $84,000; staff proposed narrowing the scope to remove a stormwater and water review (which the county is separately coordinating with public works and engineers) and to remove ordinance-drafting assistance that county planning staff and the county attorney's office can provide. With those scope adjustments, staff said the recommended contract amount is $71,590.

Staff said the county had previously put a supplemental budget estimate of $50,000 for this study. The $21,590 difference between the supplemental estimate and the recommended contract would be covered from the county's professional services budget balance, which staff reported has sufficient funds to absorb the delta.

The study will evaluate whether impact fees are the appropriate tool and will examine alternatives including use taxes or fees on materials and other funding mechanisms for housing, infrastructure and public safety services; EPS would also facilitate a work session to present findings before any policy decisions. Staff estimated a final report in June 2025.

The board approved the contract motion and recorded the action pending legal review.