Title
Public Hearing Request - Land Use and Environmental Services Agency Fee Ordinance Changes
Action
ACTION:
Schedule a public hearing for May 20, 2025 to Revise the Land Use and Environmental Services Agency (LUESA) Fee Ordinance
Staff Contact: Don Ceccarelli, LUESA-Storm Water Services
Presentation: No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
By Interlocal Agreements, LUESA - Storm Water Services division provides Land Development services on behalf of the towns. The services may vary from Town to Town. Generally, the services are comprised of performing plan review, permitting and inspection services for land development activities, such as, erosion control, storm water, transportation, zoning, etc. The Land Development Services Interlocal Cooperation Agreements state that the County may charge fees to offset the costs incurred in providing the services on behalf of the Towns. On July 1, 2019, the Town of Huntersville started providing most of these services themselves.
In FY19, Storm Water Services developed a time/expense tracking system, 100% cost recovery hourly rate model and Land Development fee model to better align the revenue generated from fees with the services provided. The output from the system and FY26 models indicated that the fees being charged do not accurately cover the expenses incurred by Storm Water Services.
The Towns and LUESA - Storm Water Services recommend revisions to the LUESA Fee Ordinance to achieve the following goals:
• County recover 100% of its costs and minimize subsidies, and
• Set fees to attain Land Development Reserves to fund pre-paid services
The proposed FY26 budget is based on the proposed fee adjustments as contained in the attached LUESA Fee Ordinance.
An informal Budget Committee consisting of the five Town Managers and the Storm Water Services Division Director exists. They have endorsed the above goals and proposed fee increases.
Storm Water Services requests a public hearing be scheduled on May 20, 2025 in accordance with Interlocal Agreement(s) with the Towns in accordance with State law for considering such increases.
PROCUREMENT BACKGROUND:
N/A
POLICY IMPACT:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
Land Development Services Revenue of $106,800.