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County approves 15% increase to Development Services fees, citing process improvements and transparency
Summary
After staff presented options to increase cost recovery for Development Services, the court voted to raise fees 15% this year with a public dashboard and commitment to review outcomes and aim for higher cost-recovery in future years.
Chris Yanez, Director of Development Services, presented a proposed update to the department's fee schedule that included new fees (an IT service fee of $15 per application and a license agreement fee), renaming and recategorization of fee types, and three increase scenarios (7%, 15%, and 22% to approach ~90% cost recovery). Yanez framed the change as part of a broader plan to reduce reliance on the general fund and to sustain departmental operations, noting planned process and technology improvements including a public-facing dashboard for applicants.
After discussion about affordability for small applicants, the need to speed reviews and the link between staffing/technology and turnaround time, the court chose the 15% increase option and asked staff to monitor implementation and return with evidence of process improvements; the motion passed unanimously. Commissioners emphasized that the fees' revenue would be tracked and used to support the Development Services functions and that staff aim to revisit fee recovery levels next year.
