County fees going up to balance next year's budget

By Dan MacArthur
Correspondent

If Benjamin Franklin were alive today he might have to modify his oft-quoted truism, saying instead that nothing in life is certain but death and fees.

Given continuing limitations on tax increases, Larimer County increasingly is depending on fee hikes to generate additional revenue.

While the difference in terminology may seem purely academic, fee increases tied to specific programs are not subject to the same general tax-limitation constraints mandated in the state's Taxpayers' Bill of Rights.

That's why folks who apply for a building permit, go camping or get arrested in Larimer County next year will dig a little deeper for the privilege.

"With revenue limitations you're going to see more and more of this," acknowledged county manager Frank Lancaster.

Some fee increases already have been built into the 2005 budget and others will be forthcoming as the county continues assessing the best way to cover the cost of providing public services.

On Nov. 22, county commissioners reviewed a lengthy menu of development review fee increases that would generate an additional $115,750 to support the planning and engineering departments. Some seldom-requested processes such as site plan reviews are slated for dramatic multi-fold increases while common ones such as zoning compliance reviews would increase 13 percent from $75 to $85.

"Some of these fees are to the point of market tolerance," conceded chief planner Russell Legg. "That's another way of saying they're going to hurt some folks."

But he said the fee increases were justified to ensure growth pays its own way. "Most people won't see them unless they're subdividers," Legg insisted. The increases would be the first in four years. They will be presented to the commissioners for formal adoption later this year.

At the same time, the commissioners also reviewed plans to double the cost of right-of-way access permits from $50 to $100. The permits typically are issued to utilities to ensure the quality of their work within county road rights-of-way. Public works director Mark Engemoen advised the commissioners to next year also expect a request for an increase in the transportation capital expansion fee. He said a study is under way of that program, which currently generates some $1.3 million annually.

Increases in camping and boating fees for county parks will be much more apparent to many. Weekend boating permits will increase from $6 to $7. Camping fees will increase from $15 to $17 for sites with electrical service and from $10 to $12 for those without.

Parks and Open Lands Director Gary Buffington said the fee increases would generate an additional $37,000 to $40,000 to defray costs in the department's goal to become self-supporting. It now recovers almost 95 percent of operational costs.

Other park fees would remain the same. Daily permits are $6 weekdays and $7 weekends. Annual permits are $65 for county residents. The commissioners did, however, authorize imposition of standard fees for those parking at the Field of Dreams baseball field near inlet bay. The county has assumed responsibility for the field after this summer's expiration of the contract with the nonprofit group that built the field.

Another fee no one wants to see is in store for those ending up on the wrong side of the law next year. Those checking into the jail can expect to pony up an additional $30 booking fee.

"It could be a fairly decent revenue for us," said Lt. Pat McCosh. With the some 11,000 to 12,000 bookings a year, the fee would generate up to $360,000 a year.

Lancaster said the commissioners authorized the fee six months ago contingent on developing a process for allocating the revenues. The bulk would go toward offsetting administrative costs and the remainder toward training. The fee would be refunded if charges are later dropped.