To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Clerk-Recorder-Assessor
Staff Name and Phone Number: Kim Barrett (707) 565-3471
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): All
Title:
Title
Consolidated Fee Hearing - Ordinance Adopting Fee Changes for the Assessor’s Office (first reading)
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a resolution introducing, reading the title and waiving further reading of a proposed ordinance to adjust fees for products and services to reflect the reasonable cost of services provided by the Assessor’s office as authorized by state law, effective July 1, 2020.
end
Executive Summary:
The Assessor’s office has conducted a time study to determine the actual costs of providing products and services to the public. Based on the study, the Clerk-Recorder-Assessor has determined that the cost to provide the products and services is more than the current fees. The department recommends the fee adjustments for the Assessor’s office to ensure fees are in line with the reasonable costs of providing products and services.
Discussion:
Government Code section 408.3 authorizes the Assessor’s office to charge a fee reasonably related to the actual cost of developing and providing the information to be paid by the party receiving the information. The Assessor fee schedule was last reviewed and updated in October 2009. The revenue generated by service fees in the Assessor division is approximately $31,000 per year.
The Assessor makes many types of information available to the public including Master Lists both secured and unsecured assessment roll data, Transfer Journal parcel list, parcel map, index maps for both city and county, mailing lists for secured and unsecured assessment roll data, individual parcel report, photocopy, assessor certification, assessor inquiry screen, research and fax/email fee
The Department has conducted a fee study to determine the reasonable costs of providing information and services to the public. Results from the studies show that the average cost of providing services exceeds the current fees. Since the below noted fees have not been increased since 2009 the proposed increases in some instances are significant to best align with increasing salaries and benefits and supplies costs.
Based on these fee study results, the Department recommends adjusting the fees as follows:
Master List Secured Assessment Roll from $80 to $98
Master List Unsecured Assessment Roll from $80 to $98
Transfer Journal Parcel Yearly from $400 to $448
Parcel Map from $3 to $10
Parcel Map CD Rom annual subscription from $600 to $720 removing discount of 2 free months
Index Map - City from $5 to $8
Index Map - County from $5 to $8
Mailing List w/situs Secured from $40 to $88
Mailing List w/situs Unsecured from $40 to $46
Individual Parcel report from $5 to $7
Photocopy from $2 to $5
Assessor Certification from $3.75 to $5
Assessor Inquiry Screen from $2 to $5
Research (Half-Hour Rate) from $50 to $62
Fax/Email fee from $2 to $4
Prior Board Actions:
4-21-2015 Ordinance 6100 reducing or eliminating some fees for products and services, 9-15-09 Ordinance 5852, establishing fees for services provided by the Assessor’s office, effective October 1, 2009, 8/20/2003 Resolution no 03-0884, establishing revised rates for assessment rolls, maps, aerial photographs, miscellaneous documentation, photocopies and property characteristic reports, research, informal segregations, voluntary mergers, and transfer reassessment exclusion fees.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 19-20 Adopted |
FY20-21 Projected |
FY 21-22 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
11,105 |
11,105 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
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11,105 |
11,105 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
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11,105 |
11,105 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
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11,105 |
11,105 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Proposed fee increases will generate approximately $11,105 in additional revenue.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Ordinance establishing fee changes effective July 1, 2020
Attachment 2 - Fee Cover sheet
Attachment 3 - Cost Analysis of Assessor Fees
Attachment 4 - Resolution Introducing, Reading Title, Waiving Further Reading of Ordinance
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A