Planning commission approves FY2027 budget with proposed GIS analyst hire and fee increases

The Boyle County Planning & Zoning Commission approved its FY2027 budget and an updated fee schedule that would increase the commission’s funding request by roughly $60,000 to pay for baseline increases and a proposed GIS analyst position shared with the city and county.

Staff said the commission’s FY2026 income tracked close to forecast, with modest expense variances, but the FY2027 proposal includes a $35,000 line item for a GIS analyst plus $25,000 in other baseline increases. Planning staff recommended the final column in the packet (FY2027 with GIS analyst) be approved and forwarded to city and county leadership for their concurrence and budget adoption.

Why it matters: The GIS analyst is intended as a shared resource to improve mapping and permitting capabilities for the city and county. Staff said the commission’s fees have not been broadly updated in about 10 years and the proposed schedule raises typical fees by about 17% on average.

Details and conditions - The recommended FY2027 budget includes a $35,000 allocation for a GIS analyst and a $25,000 baseline increase, raising the commission’s funding request by about $60,000 (to $135,000 total in asks to partners). - The fee schedule in the packet would increase most fees roughly 17% and will be forwarded to the city and county for their approval before taking effect. - Staff noted personnel increases are budgeted but any salary or benefit changes still require personnel-committee review and the city/county final approvals.

Staff comment and vote Planning staff (Hannah Gray) told the commission the GIS analyst had been requested by city and county partners and that both jurisdictions expressed interest in a shared hire. "We're increasing our asks by $60,000," she said on the record. After discussion and a request to provide sample fee scenarios for common small-lot requests, the commission voted to approve the budget and the fee changes and forward them for the city and county’s final approval.

Next steps The personnel committee will meet to discuss staff compensation items included in the budget. The fee schedule will be sent to the city and county for adoption; staff also agreed to provide example scenarios (e.g., creating a one-acre lot in AG zoning) showing how the new fee schedule would apply in practice.

Ending: The budget approval starts the intergovernmental review process; the GIS hire and fee increases take effect only after the city and county approve their shares and after any personnel approvals are completed.