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Community Development Agency, Transportation Division, and Chief Administrative Office jointly request the Board authorize the Chair to sign and approve transmittal of a letter to the Chairman of the Joint Budget Conference Committee of the California State Legislature providing the County’s opposition to proposed application fees required to comply with the California Endangered Species Act.
FUNDING: N/A
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Community Development Agency, Transportation Division, and Chief Administrative Office jointly request the Board authorize the Chair to sign and approve transmittal of a letter to the Chairman of the Joint Budget Conference Committee of the California State Legislature providing the County’s opposition to proposed application fees required to comply with the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).
DISCUSSION/BACKGROUND
Our County has been advised by the California State Association of Counties that the Brown Administration has proposed budget trailer language that would require the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to collect fees for permits required to comply with CESA. The fees proposed are brand new and would range in cost from $7,500 to $30,000, and would be based on the cost of the project.
The proposed budget trailer language also gives CDFW the authority to charge an additional fee of up to $10,000 if the original fees are deemed to be insufficient. Most State fee structures do not include such a provision.
El Dorado County, being a small rural county, isn’t in a position where fees can easily be raised in order to cover such a costly new State fee structure. In opposition, a letter has been prepared for Board consideration which must be transmitted to the Chairman of the State’s Joint Budget Conference Committee prior to the passage of the Budget Bill on June 15, 2016.
ALTERNATIVES
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OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Chief Administrative Office
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Chie...
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