PEDS outlines tree-planting, housing trust spending and fee updates in $256M FY27 budget

Tanya Wilson, director of Planning, Environment & Development Services (PEDS), presented a $256.1 million FY27 operating budget on July 16 that she said balances pass‑through federal grants, housing trust funds and county operating dollars.

Key priorities include: an urban forestry master plan that targets planting at least 500 trees per year in designated low-canopy neighborhoods; a business resource office to simplify permitting and small-business navigation; and continued affordable-housing investments through the county’s housing trust fund (PEDS projects 2,300 units generated from current commitments—542 completed, 1,261 underway, 500 planned in FY27). Wilson highlighted the GreenPlace conservation program, which to date has preserved roughly 3,400 acres and 54 parcels and plans additional acquisitions as funds permit.

PEDS also proposed updates to multiple fee schedules to restore cost recovery and statutory fund balances. Staff said some building-safety fees have not been revised since 2014; proposed increases cover residential and commercial permitting, electrical, reinspection fees and EPD (environmental protection division) items such as lake-shore and dock permits. Commissioners pressed staff on reinspection-fee rules and whether residents would be charged if an inspection fails due to county error; staff said reinspection fees are not charged when inspectors miss an appointment and the county would not assess a fee in those cases.

On implementation risks, Wilson flagged exposure if property-tax rollback measures reduce county revenues: impacts could include fewer affordable housing units, slower permitting review timelines, longer inspection response times and reduced environmental oversight. She recommended the board consider fee adjustments to maintain enterprise fund balances and to fund critical program delivery.

What’s next: PEDS will refine fee language and follow up with commissioners on specific items asked for additional detail (for instance, precise fee comparisons to neighboring jurisdictions).