Proposal to raise Washington County building fees stalls

Brad Wooley (left), auctioneer with Block Realty & Auction, and Chris Kimbrell, a ring man with Don Guthery Auctions, auction off Thursday a diesel engine during Washington County’s Road Department surplus auction at the Washington County South Campus in Fayetteville. The county was selling off an assortment of equipment including nine 2011 road graders, bridge trusses and a portable office among other items. The county expected to raise about $500,000.
Brad Wooley (left), auctioneer with Block Realty & Auction, and Chris Kimbrell, a ring man with Don Guthery Auctions, auction off Thursday a diesel engine during Washington County’s Road Department surplus auction at the Washington County South Campus in Fayetteville. The county was selling off an assortment of equipment including nine 2011 road graders, bridge trusses and a portable office among other items. The county expected to raise about $500,000.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Washington County building fees will remain the same for now, justices of the peace decided Thursday.

photo

Bill Forgy (center) of Garfield looks over a catalog of items and descriptions Thursday during Washington County’s Road Department auction in Fayetteville.

photo

A mini excavator was available Thursday during Washington County’s Road Department auction in Fayetteville.

A proposal basically doubling revenue in the Planning Department failed to gain traction during the Quorum Court meeting. The measure will go back to a committee for further review next month, said Justice of the Peace Bill Ussery, a Republican representing northeastern Springdale.

Fast fact

Revenue from the Washington County Planning Department fees ticked up by $945 last year over the year before without any fee increase, county records show.

Source: Staff report

Ussery said the county should charge for its services and charge enough to cover those services' costs. The Planning Department building fees are "woefully" behind similar jurisdictions, he said.

"I'm going to stay after (this) until we get it fixed," Ussery said.

[EMAIL UPDATES: Get free breaking news updates and daily newsletters with top headlines delivered to your inbox]

Justice of the Peace Joel Maxwell, a Republican representing western Washington County, said he wanted know why fees needed raising now. He said he didn't support increasing fees just to be similar to Benton County.

Planning Director Jim Kimbrough requested the increase last month to bring Washington County more in line with what Fayetteville and Benton County charge. Kimbrough wasn't at the Quorum Court meeting Thursday.

Justice of the Peace Tom Lundstrum, a Republican representing northwestern Washington County, said the increase was too steep.

A final plat with 50 lots or fewer costs $100 in a city planning area, but the proposal would have increased that to $500, according to the proposal. An application for exempt land divisions is $15 in a city planning area but is proposed to change to $50.

"I think these increases in particular are exorbitant," Lundstrum said. "I won't vote for it."

The Planning Department's fees directly affect contractors and property owners who want to split a lot, get a variance or request a permit, county records show. The increase doesn't affect taxpayers directly, Ussery said.

The Ordinance Review Committee approved the increase last month. Ussery, who is committee chairman, said he expected the fee change to pass. The adjustment is fair, he said.

Benton County's fees often are hundreds of dollars more than those in Washington County, according to documents from both counties. For example, a development preliminary plat costs $300 in Washington County and $750 in Benton County.

Had Washington County increased its fees at the beginning of this year, the department's revenue would be $21,225 instead of $10,465, according to documents. That money could help offset the county's budget shortfall, officials have said.

The $66 million budget has a roughly $4 million gap between spending and revenue, not including money carried over at the end of the year. Justices of the peace have started talking about major cuts to services, selling property or other changes to narrow the gap and build up the $6.3 million in unrestricted reserve.

Proposed budgets for next year are expected to be finished by the end of the month.

NW News on 08/18/2017

Upcoming Events