Council to consider higher building permit fees

One of the items included on Monday’s City Council agenda was a presentation from City Engineering and Planning Commissioner Jerry Dolcetti. He presented a finance spending review of his department, but most of the attention turned to permit fees and proposed increases — annual hikes of as much as 37 percent. A total of 78 percent over the next four years! Dolcetti says the reason for those increases is because the building department’s reserve fund has been depleted…

The figures are based on ‘flatlined’ growth figures of 0.5 percent regarding new construction over that four year period. Dolcetti says that this could result in a reserve for the department of between 250 thousand and 300 thousand dollars by 2020. During that time, Dolcetti adds that the city will focus on smaller building projects, compared the major projects of five to ten years ago. Dolcetti adds the increases would allow the fees to fall in line with the work the city’s building department does…

Building permit fees are calculated on the basis on the effort of the community in paying for the services provided. This is done through looking at salaries, services and material that is required to perform an inspection from the use of a city vehicle to the electronic equipment used to document information. It’s also determined that the building department cover costs involving ancillary users such as the legal, finance, and planning and engineering departments during this process. While nothing is set in stone, one increase would be set at 37 percent and another amounting to 20 percent during that time. Dolcetti was cautious when asked what builders and project planners can expect in the future should such fee hikes take effect…

Dolcetti feels at this time it’s not known if the higher fees would discourage development in Sault Ste. Marie. The permit fee schedule is expected to be discussed at the next council meeting on November 23rd.