By Cindy Jackson
Reporter
April 2, 2019 10:00 a.m.
Long-term planning, five-year forecasting and quarterly departmental reports are now part and parcel of building a better community in Nassau County.
Add to those strategic terms is yet another term Nassau County has adopted. “Fees for services” is now a more common expression bandied about – a phrase that is now part of the vernacular for Nassau County.
Can you say impact fees ? It’s a term/phrase used at both the philosophical and operational level. Bottom line: what services should tax revenue provide versus what should be covered by user fees?
Education. Check. Transportation. Check. Emergency Preparedness. Check. Fire and Rescue. Check.
The cost of processing tree restoration plan, a special event sign permit or a DRI (Development of Regional Impact) fee would now cost $640.00, $74.00 and $11,088.00 respectively.
Sounds like the County is moving more and more toward having “development pay for development,” said Commissioner Bell. And Megan DIEHL, the new Director for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) agrees. Right now, said Diehl, “user fees” cover just 2% of the County’s budget, yet the cost of those services far exceeds that amount.
The County is subsidizing special services provided for residents and developers to the tune of $750,000.00 each and every year.
But that is about to change. Or it could.
Thanks to a study undertaken by the County, the County now has the math and science, the analytical data to back up an approach dedicated to “fee for services.”
Think about the cost of building a bike trail or a field for Little League baseball . . .or the cost of processing a permit for a golf cart? And let’s not forget the cost of a issuing a building permit.
Who should pay for what? Again, what services should tax revenues be dedicated to versus what should be covered by user fees?
In June 2018, Nassau County hired the firm of Fiscal Choice Consulting, LLC, to ascertain the true cost of government services. The study was commissioned to review the fee schedules of the Engineering Department and the Department of Planning and Economic Opportunity.
Says their website, “Fiscal Choice Consulting understands the world of government services – from worsening fiscal conditions and inefficient operations, to difficulties with staff performance and work environments. Our partners have more than 60 years of combined hands-on experience in advising governmental clients of all sizes, from rural agencies to the largest cities and states. This experience, along with our access to meaningful data, strategies and methods, helps us ask the right questions, then help our clients develop and implement strategies that work.”
For Nassau County, Bruce Cowans is the face of Fiscal Choice. He has “extensive experience in federal, state, local and special district environments and has personally directed user fee studies for over one thousand state and local government departments.”
At a recent BOCC meeting, Commissioner Thomas Ford (District Four) was the only member of the Board to express disdain, mentioning the cost of registering a golf cart, for instance. Prior to this study such an action could be done for a nominal fee and now it could cost the average law-abiding citizen $116.00. He received little if no support from his fellow commissioners and apologized for his “rookie mistake.”
Commissioner Pat Edwards (District Three, in referring to the proposed fees, stated “we’re recouping what’s we’re spending . . . or at least some it. I think it’s important that we start with this first step.”
Taco Pope, Director of Planning and Economic Opportunity, noted the proposed fee structure will also help the county to re-invest in (additional) staff.
Drive around the Sunshine State and one will see any number of signs explaining the reality of the situation.
For instance, if you travel down First Coast Highway and come to Blackrock Trail, one will see a sign that says: “FEES, NOT TAXES, SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN PARKS.” And the cost of entry . . . just $2.
The resolution, adopted by the BOCC on March 25, 2019, includes a provision for fees “to be reviewed and revised each year to ensure the cost of providing services is fully covered by an appropriate user fee.”
Said fees are to become effective June 24, 2019.
A sample of proposed fees, appear below:
Editor’s Note: Born in Hagerstown, Maryland, Cindy received her BA in Political Science from Dickinson College. Upon graduation, Cindy began her career on Capitol Hill working as a legislative aide and director. She later became a part of the public relations and lobbying team of the American Iron and Steel Institute and served as director of the office of state legislative affairs for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Cindy was involved in economic development with the state of Maryland, and served as executive director of Leadership Washington County. As a community volunteer, Cindy participates in numerous volunteer activities serving as a member of Sunrise Rotary, and as board member of Cummer Amelia Board of Directors.
Thanks for the information. I support users pay.