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Draft fee study: town currently recovers about 84% of fee costs; staff aims for higher recovery while retaining targeted subsidies
Summary
Consultant NBS presented a draft fee study showing the town currently collects ~$1.3M/year in fees with potential full‑cost recovery of ~$1.6M (an ~84% recovery rate). Staff proposed selectively subsidizing some planning and police fees to meet policy goals (e.g., housing) while pursuing increased cost recovery overall.
NBS consultant Nicole Kissam presented a draft fee study analyzing fee programs across planning, building, public works and police. Using recent budget and staffing data, the consultant estimated current fee revenue at about $1.3 million per year and a full‑cost recovery potential near $1.6 million — an overall recovery rate of roughly 84%. The analysis showed planning fees at about 60% recovery, building fees near 100%, public works around 70% and police administrative fees at about 7% recovery.
Staff recommended a policy approach that balances full cost recovery with town priorities. Examples: keeping some planning fees (ADU and use‑permit fees) below 100% to help meet housing‑element goals and support small businesses, and maintaining some police administrative fees below full cost to align with comparable jurisdictions. The consultant and staff recommended aiming to raise overall recovery toward 90% while protecting targeted subsidies.
Councilmembers asked for clearer public communications about which fees are subsidized, whether staff can exercise discretion to waive or reduce fees in limited cases, and how streamlining (e.g., fewer variances) could reduce staff time and thus fees. Staff said the final fee schedule and a resolution would return to council in April or May with exact fee amounts.
