Scott County commissioners consider creating dedicated fund for permit revenues

Scott County commissioners and staff spent a budget-session discussion weighing whether to move building-permit revenues out of the county's general fund and into a separately administered account.

A staff member told the group, "We can get a fund. I can do that," offering to set up a restricted fund modeled on a transfer-station account the county created last year. Commissioners debated whether to seed the new fund from the general fund or to deduct permit receipts from general as they come in. "You can't expect January to hit with a bunch of permits to carry you through," one committee member said, arguing the county may need up-front cash to bridge the period before permit activity generates steady revenue.

The discussion included concrete dollar options for seeding or short-term support. One commissioner said, "We could deduct 30,000 from her budget," and later summarized an interim approach that would take $85,430 from the general fund to cover immediate needs while the fund is established. Participants described two practical routes: (1) seed the new fund from general revenue now to ensure continuity, or (2) budget a larger general-fund amount and then move a portion back once department receipts are available.

Next steps: staff indicated they could establish the fund and bring the item to the formal commission meeting for action; the county plans to discuss related fee schedule changes and the area plan at the Oct. 7 commissioners meeting.