Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fees And Budget Projections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission staff propose $850,000 fee projection for FY2026 and recommend $120/hour escrow flat rate
Summary
Staff recommended a conservative $850,000 application-fee projection for FY2026, discussed pending rule changes that would raise some fees, and proposed charging a flat $120 per hour for escrowed work to simplify accounting and refunds.
Commission staff presented a detailed review of application-fee trends and a proposed projection for fiscal year 2026 revenue. Gina (staff) summarized that private development — particularly commercial and industrial activity — has accounted for most of recent fee revenue and that demolition applications and selected infrastructure projects contributed to recent variability.
After reviewing five‑year trends and pending rule amendments that would add or raise fees for waivers, letters of interpretation (LOIs) and applications resolving violations, Gina recommended a conservative FY2026 application‑fee projection of $850,000. She said the package of pending rule changes would likely raise revenues by roughly 6% based on FY2025 activity (about $57,500), but commissioners noted rule-adoption timing (likely mid‑year) would limit the near‑term impact to a partial fiscal year.
Gina proposed simplifying escrow accounting by charging a flat $120 per hour for staff time (fringe included) rather than estimating based on individual staff salaries and fringe rates. "We would just use a straight rate of a $120 per hour that would account for both the fringe and the salary for all staff hours," Gina said; staff said this approach aligns with common practice among partner agencies and would make escrow management and refunds more straightforward.
Commissioners discussed the projection’s conservatism and the commission’s continuing reliance on fee revenue to fund staff and operations. Sue Allen confirmed the commission is awaiting formal adoption of the state appropriation and said she had been informally told the commission’s appropriation would increase by about $260,000 over last year to help cover negotiated salary increases.
Staff will continue to monitor application fees, rule-adoption timing, and the volume of projects that may re-enter the system because of expired certificates of filing; the committee asked staff to report back with actuals next June once the rule changes have been in effect for a full year.
