During the discussion about the 2024 code implementation schedule, committee members returned repeatedly to SBCC staffing and funding. Representative Rommel raised the possibility of a fee increase and greater expenditure authority for SBCC; he said fees were last increased in 2018 and some revenues currently earmarked for the SBCC are not available for spending until the Legislature authorizes expenditure authority.

SBCC staff and council members said the current financial and staffing configuration constrains the ability to accelerate publication, produce code books, and run the training needed for end users. Dustin noted the council received a record month of fee revenue recently but that the department has limited visibility into jurisdictional permit reporting; the absence of consistent building‑permit reports makes auditing fee flows difficult. "We don't get those building permit reports except for like maybe 1 or 2 every quarter," Dustin said, explaining why staff has little data for extrapolating expected fee receipts.

Committee members discussed possible remedies: (1) legislative changes to authorize expenditure of existing funds, (2) increased fees or fee‑collection/audit requirements, and (3) more SBCC staff to compress the CR102→CR103→publication timeline. Micah (WAVO) offered to help explore audit language but said no draft existed yet; Representative Rommel asked the group to suggest top priorities for any legislative package.

The committee did not adopt any funding changes at the meeting but identified staffing and fee authority as topics to include in legislative outreach and future work.