This item presents the proposed Master Fee Resolution for fiscal year 2021-22, incorporating fee changes for the Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Elections, County Counsel, Community Services, Library and Sheriff departments and the Health and Human Services Agency.
The Master Fee Resolution, first adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 1991, includes an estimated 1,300 fees and charges for services provided by County departments. The use of a single resolution and integrated fee schedule provides for a systematic review of County fees, and allows for necessary adjustments to reflect changing service delivery costs. The Master Fee Schedule was last updated on December 15, 2020. The sections below describe in further detail the proposed fee changes in the 2021-22 Master Fee Resolution.
Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Elections (ACE)
The Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Elections (ACE) department is proposing revisions to existing fees and new fees in both the Assessor and Clerk-Recorder’s offices.
Clerk-Recorder
The Clerk-Recorder’s office is proposing fee revisions which address several state mandated fees and operating costs. Four of the proposed fee revisions update the Master Fee schedule to align with filing fees dictated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. These fees are:
- Fish & Game - Negative Declaration on NOD Mitigated Negative Declaration,
- Fish & Game - Environmental Impact Report on NOD, and
- Environmental Document pursuant to a Certified Regulatory Program (CRP).
An additional $1.00 fee is being proposed for Recording Fee First Page (8 1/2" x 11") and Combined Documents (per title, 1st page), for each applicable real property instrument that is recorded by the County to be used for payment of County costs for implementation and participation in electronic recording under the Electronic Recording Delivery Act (ERDA). This additional fee was previously approved in the Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 20-90.
The department is also removing the $30.00 Execution of Passport Application fee.
Elections
The Elections office is proposing revisions and additional new fees. The new fees include the Notice of Intent to Circulate Petition, which would be $200.00 per initiative, Political Reform Document Late Fee at 10.00 per day, up to 10 days, County Candidate Filing Fees at 1% annual salary of the office, and a $25.00 Returned Check Fee. These fees are supported by Government Code and Election Code.
The revised fees include the Copy of Political Reform Documents, adding an additional $5.00 retrieval fee for documents 5 years or older. Elections is reducing the following fees: Certification of Affidavits, Copies of Affidavits, and Voter Indices. These changes are supported by Government Code and Election Code.
The Elections office is also removing the following fees:
- Countywide Statement of Vote Large Election (General/Primary)
- Countywide Statement of Vote Small Election (UDEL/Schools/ Special/Muni)
- FAX Charge
- Handling & Packaging Computer Tape
- Handling & Packaging Other
- Postage Computer Tape in California
- Postage Computer Tape out of California
- Travel Card
Community Services
Integrated Waste Management
The Integrated Waste Management Division operates as a self-supporting enterprise fund and depends on revenue from disposal and recycling services and permit fees to fund most of its programs, including operation of the Yolo County Central Landfill (landfill) and the Esparto Convenience Center (transfer station). Many of the fees reflect a large percentage increase due to mandatory requirements by the State of California for proper processing of appliances, organic waste, and other waste streams. Fees affected by this increase include:
- Pressure treated wood
- Tires
- Soil and other waste requiring special handling
- Biosolids
- Liquid waste
- Food waste
- Solar panel disposal
- Green waste and wood waste
- Construction and Demolition material
- Municipal Waste
The division proposes to increase fees for commercial loads of municipal solid waste (trash) from the current $70/ton to $75/ton (7.14% increase). The division is also proposing similar increases for loads of construction and demolition (C&D) both high and low quality. High quality rates would increase from $70\ton to $85/ton (21.43% increase), while the low-quality C&D would increase from $80/ton to $95/ton. This increased revenue will help offset increased operating costs.
Due to regulatory changes the cost of pressure treated wood has significantly increased and less sites will accept such waste. The division is proposing to increase fees for pressure treated wood form $60/ ton to $120/ton (100% increase).
In addition, the division proposes increasing the minimum fees for loads of construction and demolition (C&D) from $18 each to $20 (11.11% increase), clean green, wood or brush waste from $15 to $18 each (20% increase) and weighted loads of waste from $15 to $18 each (20% increase). Further, the division is proposing an increase in the per ton cost for rejected loads of C&D from $123.50/ton to $140/ton (13.36% increase). These increases are intended to offset expenses related to processing this waste.
Additionally, the division proposes to increase bulk tire fees from $225/ton to $240/ton (7% increase); this should result in an annual increase of $225. Soil and other waste requiring special handling, goes from $20/ton to $25/ton (25% increase); this should result in an annual increase in revenue of: $100,000. Biosolids proposed to increase from $17.50/ton to $20/ton (14% increase); expected annual revenue increase of: $ 29,952. Liquid waste goes from $35 to $40/ton (14% increase); and an annual expected increase in revenue of: $55,000. Food waste proposed to increase from $80 to $105/ton (31% increase); and an annual expected increase in revenue of: $275,000. And lastly, solar panel disposal increases from $ 33/each to $ 37/each (12 % increase); and an annual expected revenue increase of: $240.
A decrease in the fee for Residential Trash Can rates for Clean Green and Wood or Brush waste at the Esparto Convenience Center (from $5 to $3) has also been proposed by the division in order to accurately reflect the fee currently being charged at that location.
Overall, the proposed landfill fees will increase revenue this next fiscal year by approximately $1,367,792 and were reflected in the FY 2021-22 Recommended Budget for the division.
County Counsel
County Counsel is proposing to increase the rate that is charged for legal services from $195/hour to $200/hour. This increase is based upon a revised calculation of the hourly rate in the County Counsel’s Office performed by the Department of Financial Services using actual data from 2019-20. The existing hourly rate was last increased in 2020 based on data from 2018-19. It is estimated that the proposed increase in the legal services fee will result in a General Fund revenue increase of $50,000 in 2021-22.
Health & Human Services Agency
On an annual basis, the County submits a Mental Health Cost Report in order to receive Medi-Cal reimbursement for services provided by the County. The Department of Health Care Services reimburses the County based on the published rates that have been approved by the Board. The proposed Mental Health fees are based on the actual per-unit cost of outpatient services calculated in the most recent Mental Health Cost Report from 2019-20.
Library
The Library is proposing the deletion of extended use fees on regular items, special materials, and electronic equipment, as these fees were eliminated April 1, 2021, as approved by the Board of Supervisors on March 9, 2021. Additionally, the Library is proposing the Archives fees related to special orders, mailings, print reproduction of materials, and digital reproduction of materials be modified to include the Yolo County Historical Collection.
Sheriff
The Sheriff’s Office will be adding two new fees to the fee schedule for the provision of digital images. Upon subpoena, the Coroner’s Section will supply images from a case file. Previously, these images were given in a hard copy format at a per image rate. However, due to changes in office policy, these images will now be provided in a digital format. Radiology images will also be provided in a digital format as opposed to the previous per film rate. The cost for Autopsy and/or Coroner Scene Digital Images and X-Ray Digital Images is $40 per disc and $55 per disc, respectively. Because providing these images in a digital format utilizes fewer resources than the current process, the price per disc is lower than the per image and per film fees. Therefore, no increase in revenue is expected.
The two new digital image fees will replace four fees on the current schedule: Autopsy and Scene Photographs, Coroner Scene DVD, Dental X-Rays, and X-Ray, which will be archived to reduce redundancy. The Sheriff’s Office is also requesting to archive the Body Bag fee, as it has been determined that the fee for Body Removal is adequate to recover the costs of any body bag used during the removal process.
Public Administrator Fees
The Public Administrator (PA) will be adding a new fee for Extraordinary Compensation for the recovery of costs when managing the estates of Yolo County residents who die without a responsible party to settle their affairs. Probate Code Section 10800 establishes the statutory compensation paid by the estate for the PA’s services based on the value of the estate. Probate Code 10801 grants authority to the PA to request extraordinary compensation for managing estates in cases of exceptional situations such as: requiring the selling of real estate and personal property, concluding the decedent’s business, and participating in litigation in defense of the estate. In these circumstances, the PA tracks the time spent on behalf of the estate and multiplies it by the hourly rate determined by the Sheriff’s Office and approved by the Board of Supervisors. The PA then petitions the court to approve the fees. Extraordinary compensation cannot be charged to an estate without approval by the court.
The Sheriff’s Office Finance Section applied expenditures for staff salaries, services and supplies, and overhead costs to calculate a productive hourly rate of $120.00 per hour, which will be applied as the hourly rate for Extraordinary Compensation. A revenue increase of $1,200 is expected for the 2021-22 fiscal year. |