Subdivision fees going up by 40 percent

The cost to apply for a county subdivision rose 40 percent on Thursday.

Flathead County Planning and Zoning Director Jeff Harris presented a request to the commissioners two weeks ago asking for a fee increase of at least 20 percent.

After looking at other options for rate increases of 20 percent and 30 percent, the commissioners unanimously chose to go with a 40 percent increase.

The move came after Harris' presentation showed that taxpayers subsidize a substantial amount of the cost to process various applications. In fiscal year 2008, revenue from application fees brought in $154,600, but the cost to process the applications consumed $431,300.

Taxpayers covered the $276,700 difference.

"We obviously are subsidizing," Harris said. "The question is, how much to do you want to subsidize land-use applications?"

To fully cover the costs, the county would have to more than double its fees, which was a move county officials did not want to do.

"Because of the budget challenges we have, I don't think it's reasonable for taxpayers to subsidize - beyond a reasonable level - these kinds of applications," County Administrator Mike Pence said. "In fairness to the taxpayers, the 40 percent is the best choice to take."

Application fees have held steady in Flathead County for three years, and projecting the costs and revenue of the Planning and Zoning Office prove difficult because of a constantly changing development market.

Comparing Flathead County's fees with other counties in the state is difficult because of varying zoning regulations and review processes, but Flathead is generally in the middle of the fee spectrum.

A 200-lot subdivision application for preliminary plat in Flathead County will now cost about $13,370, up from $9,550.

Missoula County, though, would charge close to $25,000 for the same application. Lewis and Clark County would charge less than $2,000.

Compared to the three municipalities in Flathead County - Whitefish, Kalispell and Columbia Falls - the county still charges the least.

A 200-lot application would cost $26,000 in Kalispell, and Whitefish would charge more than $42,000.

"We don't even come close to Whitefish," Harris told the commissioners. "Whitefish is on a different planet from us."

Columbia Falls typically has fees that mirror the county's.

The rate increase went into effect immediately.

Reporter Michael Richeson may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at mricheson@dailyinterlake.com