Notice of Proposed Fee Changes

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors are conducting consolidated fee hearings on March 21, 2023, in the Board of Supervisors Chambers located at 575 Administration Drive in Santa Rosa at 8:30 a.m. The Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures is proposing fee increases for the Agriculture, Land Stewardship, and Weights & Measures divisions.

The County of Sonoma engaged with a consultant, NBS (Consultant) to perform a User Fee Study (Study) in Fiscal Year 2019-20. The goal of the Study was to present findings regarding maximum allowable cost recovery amounts from the various fee analyses performed as part of the Study, and to provide the County with the information needed to update and establish user and regulatory fees for service. It was determined through that Study that a majority of the fees collected by the Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures were significantly under the cost recovery amount. During the Fiscal Year 2022-23 consolidated fee hearings, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to use a phased approach to reaching full cost recovery. The Consolidated Fee Hearings for Fiscal Year 23-24 would be the second year of that phased approach.

All related documents to this item, including the proposed fee schedule, can be viewed online here (https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6064505&GUID=7E1FD9AD-93E0-45CC-8EE8-3B45AAD0B1B0&Options=&Search=). Attachment 1, Summary Report outlines the method for determining the proposed amount of increases. Should the Board of Supervisors adopt these fees, they would become effective July 1, 2023.