Springfield City Council unanimously passed an ordinance at last night’s meeting that adjusts many of the city’s fees for services in fiscal 2014, which begins July 1. In all, the city established 15 new fees, reduced 80 charges, held constant 37 and increased 77.
The changes, which came without public discussion at the Jan. 14 meeting, are estimated to generate $22,323 in new revenue for city departments, according to information provided to council on the ordinance.
As part of its electronic plan submission and review system, Building Development Services was granted a technology fee of 1 cent per square foot, with a minimum charge of $50 for plans submitted electronically.
Increases for 27 zoning and subdivision case review fees were approved, generating $10,176 at fiscal 2012 activity levels. Land disturbance permits have increased to $350 from $300, and preliminary planned development review fees increased 5.3 percent to $2,116. In addition, the fee for conditional use permits jumped to $1,355 from $1,272 in the current fiscal year.
The price for a burning permit is among the 80 charges to be reduced. The new permit cost is $72, down from $79. Several blasting and fireworks permits also went down around 2 percent to better reflect the cost to the city.
Among the fees that remained unchanged is the after-hours establishment fee, at $137. Several charges for services such as staff and equipment rates with Fire Department personnel for event activities also stayed the same.
According to the city’s
findings and recommendations to council, “Charges for municipal services, where appropriate, should recover 100 percent of the related cost of providing the service.” The adjustments bring recovery of costs overall to 97.5 percent from 96.6 percent.
The bill to adjust fees was previously introduced in June, but complaints from members of the business community –
including Richard Brownsberger of Strafford-based Hometown Disposal Inc. – led the city to introduce upcoming changes at the end of the calendar year so companies could have plenty of warning to adjust their budgets, according to City Finance Director Mary Mannix Decker. Decker introduced the bill at the Dec. 17 council meeting. Brownsberger had protested an 8 percent hike in landfill fees for the current fiscal year, saying he didn’t have time to adjust his rates.
At the public hearing on Dec. 17, no members of the public spoke out against the fee changes.
