Building and planning department seeks small fee increases and a technology surcharge

Tracy Jackson, from Building and Planning, asked the board to call for a public hearing to rescind and replace permit fees, proposing a 3% cost-of-living increase effective July 1 and a 1% technology fee to cover Accela software costs.

Jackson said the department has not increased fees in four years and that a modest 3% increase is intended to produce roughly $200,000 in additional revenue when fully annualized, with about half of that amount expected in the current year. She said BPAC reviewed the proposal and reported no objections.

Commissioners expressed no objection to placing the hearing on an upcoming agenda and discussed timing for a mid-June hearing if a quorum is available.

Why it matters: permit-fee adjustments affect developers, builders and residents who pay permitting costs and fund the enterprise fund that supports permitting services. The technology fee is intended to create a sustainable funding source for the permitting software rather than paying monthly out of existing fund balances.

What happens next: staff will place a call for hearing and schedule a public hearing in mid-June, subject to a quorum.