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SUNNY Temp: 86 °F Wind: W at 4 mph Sunday, September 28, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 24, 2003 County planning fees for new houses such as this one off Old Stage Road would increase under a proposal. Chad Lockrie, left, and Adam Shell frame the house for Adam Hausman Framing on Monday. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Going up Jackson County considers raising its planning and building development fees as much as 50 percent to help pay for services By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Planning and building fees could jump by as much as 50 percent under a proposal that would give Jackson County the distinction of having one of the highest rates of any county in Oregon. The county planning department is considering a "community development fee" that would boost permit costs on everything from home remodeling to new home construction. The fee, which would pay 100 percent of the actual costs for county services, would charge 1.6 percent on new construction. On a $130,000 new house, for example, the fee would add another $2,080. The city of Ashland is the only municipality in the county to have a similar fee, although no other county in the state has this type of charge. Advertisement "We would be the first on the block to try a community development fee," said Paul Korbulic, director of the Jackson County Roads, Parks and Planning Department. Fee schedules from other counties were not immediately available. But Korbulic said Jackson County would have one of the highest, if not the highest, fees of any in the state. "That’s just outrageous," said contractor Larry Denn of the proposed fee hike. "The cost for the consumer is going up and up and people just end up blaming the builder." Denn said the county requires more and more engineering drawings each year on new construction, further driving up the cost of construction. "Even on decks, we’re required to have a little engineering depending on the situation," he said. While homeowners haven’t balked about paying the extra charges — which are billed through the contractor — Denn expects to see more complaints once interest rates begin climbing. The county, struggling with budget problems, is considering the new fee so that various divisions within the county Road, Parks and Planing Department would receive the full amount for development-related services. Korbulic said only 20 percent of the actual costs of permits for houses, remodels, rezonings, code enforcement, inspections and other services are recouped under the current fee structure. By instituting this fee, the county would generate an additional $1.5 million annually that would help pay for the department’s $4.5 million operating budget. County Commissioner Jack Walker, who reviewed the proposed fee increases recently, wasn’t impressed with a plan that he thinks would penalize people for spending money in Jackson County. He said other proposed changes to county regulations, which he hoped would speed up the permit applications process, might generate enough savings to limit fee increases. Commissioner Sue Kupillas said increases in fees haven’t slowed growth in Jackson County, but she said the county should strive to avoid setting rates comparable to those in cities, which provide many more services. "We don’t supply water and sewer," she said. Under the proposed fee, the county still would be cheaper for development costs than cities in Jackson County. Commissioner Dave Gilmour, who thought increasing fees wouldn’t necessarily deter development, said, "After all the whining from builders in Central Point when fees were increased, we’ve had the biggest growth ever." Contractor Mike Pagnini said fees haven’t been a significant factor in developing rural land. "I always thought the county was fairly low," he said. After taking into account the cost of land, a well and a septic system, the county’s fees are just a minor part of putting a house on rural acreage, he said. Korbulic said that if commissioners approved the new plan, the county could also create a reserve fund of $500,000 to weather any downturns in building activity. The county plans to hold further discussions and hearings on the proposal before it is adopted. "The public will have an opportunity to comment on this," said Korbulic. "It is not a done deal." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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