City Hall
City Budget Includes Fee Increases---and We're Not Talking about Parking
While most of the focus on Mayor Mike McGinn's proposed 2011 budget has been on his controversial proposals to raise parking fees and taxes, a number of other fee increases have gone under the radar. Here are some of the fee hikes the city council is considering to help close a $67 million budget shortfall:
• Permits from the Department of Planning and Development, including building development fees, land use fees, electrical fees, and other fees, many of which are switching from a base fee to an hourly rate of $177, raising $920,000 in both 2011 and 2012 (full list here).
• Fees for owning cats, which (unlike dog fees) are going up across the board, raising $85,000 in both 2011 and 2012 (full list here).
• Fees for false alarms that result in police dispatch, raising $147,200 in 2011 and $94,000 in 2012 (full list here).
• Fees for for-hire drivers licensed in Seattle would go down (from $100 to $75), but the city would end an exemption from the city fee for drivers who are also licensed in King County---a change that would raise $100,000.
Of course, the entire budget will likely be thrown into disarray come November 3, when the city will have to figure out how to deal with the impacts of Tuesday night's election. Three statewide initiative---I-1107, I-1100, and I-1105---could, if they pass, cost the city $3.5 million in revenues next year and $8.2 million in 2012, a city council analysis concluded.
• Permits from the Department of Planning and Development, including building development fees, land use fees, electrical fees, and other fees, many of which are switching from a base fee to an hourly rate of $177, raising $920,000 in both 2011 and 2012 (full list here).
• Fees for owning cats, which (unlike dog fees) are going up across the board, raising $85,000 in both 2011 and 2012 (full list here).
• Fees for false alarms that result in police dispatch, raising $147,200 in 2011 and $94,000 in 2012 (full list here).
• Fees for for-hire drivers licensed in Seattle would go down (from $100 to $75), but the city would end an exemption from the city fee for drivers who are also licensed in King County---a change that would raise $100,000.
Of course, the entire budget will likely be thrown into disarray come November 3, when the city will have to figure out how to deal with the impacts of Tuesday night's election. Three statewide initiative---I-1107, I-1100, and I-1105---could, if they pass, cost the city $3.5 million in revenues next year and $8.2 million in 2012, a city council analysis concluded.
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