Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Master Fee Schedule topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Polk County staff present draft 2026–27 master fee schedule; increases modest, won’t close budget gap
Summary
County staff introduced a draft FY 2026–27 master fee schedule that leaves most fees unchanged, with some community development increases up to 8–10% and small fairgrounds rental increases. Staff said changes could add roughly $5,000 but will not resolve larger general-fund shortfalls; the schedule will appear on the July 1 agenda.
Mr. Hance presented the Polk County draft master fee schedule for fiscal year 2026–27 and recommended the board consider formal approval at its next meeting. He told the board the schedule is an annual legal requirement and that most departmental fees remain at current levels, while some lines show modest increases.
Mr. Hance said some departments — notably community development — include increases “as high as 8 to 10%,” and that the county’s fees compare lower than many surrounding jurisdictions. He noted several minor increases and new fees, including modest rises in fairgrounds building rentals and an unspecified new public-works fee. "It's nothing unusual," he said, describing the proposal as largely status quo with limited changes.
On revenue impact, Mr. Hance estimated the fairgrounds fee increases would likely generate "maybe at the most $5,000 in increased revenues," and cautioned the changes would not close larger, multi‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar shortfalls in the general fund. He also said behavioral-health fees are set by the state and therefore unchanged under the county schedule.
The staff recommendation is to place the draft fee schedule and an accompanying resolution on the board's formal July 1 agenda for action. The chair asked that the fair director or board chair present the fairgrounds increases in the context of a planned voter levy; Mr. Hance said he would invite Tina (the fair director) and try to arrange for Tim or another fair official to attend.
The board did not vote on the schedule at this meeting; Mr. Hance offered to circulate the full packet and answer follow-up questions ahead of the July 1 agenda item.
