County raising hundreds of fees by an average 8.1%

"This year, you'll see that most fees that are increasing are going up between five and ten percent. This is a little bit higher than we often have seen."

photo credit: Marc Albert/KRCB
Need something from the county? It will cost more soon.

The cost of electricity, groceries, gasoline, and housing are all up.

The cost of county licenses, permits and use fees are about to follow.

This week Sonoma County's Board of Supervisors unanimously increased the cost of just about every interaction one could have with local government.

Peter Bruland, Sonoma County's deputy county administrator, provided the board with details.

"This year, you'll see that most fees that are increasing are going up between five and ten percent. This is a little bit higher than we often have seen and, I really want to emphasize that this is primarily tied to our costs and our staffing costs and part of the reason for that greater increase is that last year's fees were approved and developed prior to our finalizing labor agreements."

The fees derive from reforms begun by 1978's Proposition 13, and are meant to have individuals using any public service, pay for the entire cost of providing the service, whatever it is, directly.

While holding down property taxes for some, it has put prices on many a local government service.

The list of local fees is fairly comprehensive.

For example--.wish to film or photograph eight or fewer people, say a wedding shoot at a regional park? That will run you $342. How about tearing down a house, shed, garage or chicken coop? $187. Upgrading a driveway? $839. Adopting a dog from the pound? $159.

According to Bruland, the county collects nearly $3 million worth of fees annually.

"Permit Sonoma is our largest fee driven department there are six hundred and sixty fees being increased, most of these are going up by 8.5 percent which is in line with the labor increases that that department has seem, and I would just note that permit Sonoma is continuing to implement its management review, which, over the longer term is designed to lead to both service improvement and potentially efficiencies which may help control costs."

Some fees are being eliminated, though new ones are being invented. Such as a new, $3 summer parking surcharge at Russian River beaches.

Annual regional park pass and daily parking fees at regional parks will remain unchanged.