REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  December  12, 2017
CATEGORY:  Scheduled Hearings - General Government-7.

SUBJECT:

An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Shasta Setting and Identifying Fees to be Charged by the County of Shasta

Supervisorial District No. :  ALL

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Brian Muir, Auditor-Controller, (530) 225-5541

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Brian Muir, Auditor-Controller

RECOMMENDATION

Take the following actions: (1) Conduct a public hearing to consider enacting an ordinance which establishes or imposes new or increased fees for certain permits and other services provided by the County; (2) close the public hearing; and (3) introduce, waive the reading of, and enact the Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Shasta Setting and Identifying Fees to be Charged by the County of Shasta.

SUMMARY

The proposed ordinance establishes or imposes new or adjusted fees for certain permits and other services provided by County.  Some fees apply countywide and other fees are charged by the following County Departments: County Clerk, Mental Health, Public Health, Resource Management and Sheriff. 

DISCUSSION

With the exception of fees specified by State law, fees cannot exceed the actual cost of providing a service. The basic concept of fees is to charge the actual user of the services for the cost. In cases where there is no fee or where the fee does not fully cover costs, other citizens who pay taxes, either directly or indirectly, subsidize the cost to provide services.

Resolution 2017-01, approved by the Board of Supervisors on September 19, 2017, directs departments to recover the full cost of providing services to individuals and agencies outside the County of Shasta organization to the extent allowed by law. Departments have analyzed fees charged for their services and the calculation of actual cost has been reviewed by staff in the Auditor-Controller’s office. It is recommended that the Board adopt the fees as submitted.

Documentation concerning fee calculations has been available in the Clerk of the Board and Auditor-Controller’s office since November 28, 2017.

ALTERNATIVES

As provided in Resolution 2017-01, the Board could choose not to approve fee adjustments and designate the funding source to subsidize the services provided.

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

County Clerk, Health and Human Services Agency, Resource Management, and the Sheriff support the recommendation. County Counsel and the County Administrative Office reviewed the recommendation.

FINANCING

The County would recover an estimated $279,000 annually with the application of Full Cost Recovery policies in relation to the listed fees.