Title
HEARING - Surveyor’s Office recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 013-2018 approving the first increase in fees since 2001, effective 60 days after adoption. (Est. Time: 20 Min.)
FUNDING: General Fund Revenue.
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION:
The County Surveyor’s Office recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 013-2018 approving the first increase in fees since 2001, effective 60 days after adoption.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
Government Code 54985 authorizes the Board of Supervisors to adopt new fees, fee levels, and charges. There have been no fee increases in the County Surveyor’s Office since 2001. The Surveyor’s Office has studied the cost for providing the services including personnel, indirect and overhead costs, supervision, equipment and activities. The County is not recovering full costs from the public for these services. This increase will help to close the gap between cost of service and the amount collected from the public for the service. However, these increases will not cover the full cost to provide the services. The proposed increases will keep the County competitive compared to its neighboring jurisdictions.
The recommended fee increases are the first step in studying the Surveyor’s fees. As part of a fee study, which was funded in the budget, an updated look at Surveyor fees and the work it completes for County departments will be done (e.g. surveyor and GIS work).
Public notice of this matter was published pursuant to Government Code Section 6062a, which states in full: Publication of notice pursuant to this section shall be for 10 days in a newspaper regularly published once a week or oftener. Two publications, with at least five days intervening between the dates of first and last publication not counting such publication dates, are sufficient. The period of notice commences upon the first day of publication and terminates at the end of the tenth day, including therein the first day.
ALTERNATIVES:
Not increasing fees will result in a continued General Fund subsidy, at the same level, to cover costs.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board approve this item to increase fees within the Surveyor’s Office as was discussed during the budget hearings in June 2017.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The County Surveyor’s Office estimated revenues will increase by approximately $42,000 for a full fiscal year; this is based upon the document volume from Fiscal Year 2016-17.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk to provide a copy of the signed resolution to the County Surveyor.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Good Governance
CONTACT
Rich Briner, County Surveyor