AGENDA #10a

 

BUDGET WORKING PAPER

 

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Potential Fee Increases the Community Could Face Next Year

 

DATE:             April 2, 2003

 

 

This memorandum responds to a Council member’s request for information regarding potential fee or service charge increases the community could be facing in the next budget year.

 

DISCUSSON

 

Each year, we review the user fees and service charges for various Town services to determine the relationship of fees to costs and the need for potential fee adjustments.  We are currently still reviewing these fees for the next budget year, but at this point, we do not anticipate any significant adjustments in most fees.

 

The Council will soon receive a report on the adequacy of the commercial refuse collection fee instituted last year and any recommendations for changes in this program, including the potential elimination of commercial refuse collection by the Town.

 

The Council recently allocated funding for implementation of the stormwater management program recommended by consultants and this work is just beginning.  The primary recommendation in the consultant’s initial report includes the establishment of a stormwater management system and enterprise that would be funded primarily through fees charges to the various parties involved in the enterprise system.  However, with the initial phase of implementation and study now beginning, our consultant has not determined the precise nature and level of fees that would be necessary to fund this new program.   We have recommended that the Council provide additional funding to continue the next phase of the program and would expect more information on fees to be developed as the implementation of this program continues.

 

For most other fees and charges, we anticipate only minor changes from current levels.  No increases are recommended for development review activity and current building inspection fees for next year.  In addition, we do not anticipate any major changes in staff or advisory board recommendations for fees for Parks and Recreation and Library activities.

 

At this point, we recommend no fee change in the rental licensing program initiated this year.