The Thurston County Board of Health voted to allow a 5% technology fee to be incorporated into its fee schedule to support the implementation and maintenance of Acela, a new digital permitting system.

Staff explained the fee (resolution H‑1‑2026) was previously approved by the Board of County Commissioners and that revenue will be used to support software maintenance and the transition to the Acela platform. The county’s environmental health staff credited Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) for leadership in developing the joint approach and said Acela would improve online applications, payments and permit tracking.

Under state statute cited by staff, the resolution requires votes only by elected officials; the elected officials present voted in favor to allow staff to implement the technology fee effective Jan. 1, 2026. Staff said the fee was estimated by CPED to be adequate to support maintenance and ongoing costs of the joint contract.