MILTON — Rhonda Royal, building official for the county, presented a plan for permit fee increases at Monday's commissioners meeting to recruit and retain qualified permit inspectors.
According to documents provided to commissioners, the last permit fee increase was in 2015, but it only adjusted some residential permit fees. A recent review of those fees determined there should be an increase to the fees to accurately reflect the work effort and staffing needs of the department and to be more aligned with neighboring jurisdictions.
The county does not have enough permit inspectors to keep up with the increased demands, an estimated 2,500 permits by the end of 2018 Royal said. Additionally, the pay Santa Rosa County offers current inspectors is not enough to draw qualified candidates from neighboring counties or enough to keep those inspectors from leaving the job for a better offer, according to Royal.
"Because we have been lagging behind for so many years with inadequate staffing in the sense we are losing qualified inspectors, and having a hard time hiring (new) inspectors," Royal said. "The goal is to raise permit fees enough that will support the additional personnel that I'm asking for in the 2019 budget."
A qualified inspector has to have five years experience verifiable by affidavit from an architect or contractor Royal said. She needs five qualified inspectors and one permit technician to handle the current inspection workload.
Commissioners tabled the fees proposed by Royal, after commissioners questioned whether the increased fees would be enough. In 2015, commissioners increased fees for the same reason, but it was not enough. Commissioners expressed their desire for studies of neighboring counties to see where Santa Rosa County stands on a pay scale for these inspectors.
"We need a more comprehensive review tied to outcomes," Commissioner Rob Williamson said.
Commissioner Bob Cole said he was for the fee increase but wanted to look at alternatives like electronic permitting for track builders. Royal said that could reduce the inspection time from two weeks to 48 hours. Cole also wants to look at outsourcing, hiring agencies or private companies that provide inspection services.
Commissioner Sam Parker said he would like to see the county pay inspectors more than neighboring counties. He said the Sheriff's office had similar issues with retention and recruitment until an approved pay increase solved the problem.
The discussion ended with commissioners voting to move the proposal to Thursday's regular meeting agenda for a public hearing.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Commissioners may increase permit fees