Thurston County reports recuperating 100% of 2023 recoverable costs to this point

“In terms of the overall cost recoverability, the county at this time recovers 100% of its recoverable costs.”

Martin Chaw, senior project manager of FCS Group said this when the consultants briefed the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on the permitting costs and comparison of service updates during a meeting yesterday, September 25.

“We identified $5.63 million of total expenses, of which $3.9 million is recoverable. Revenues from our current fees cover $3.9 million of costs,” said Chaw.

“Recoverable costs -- these include things such as oversight of building and land use activities, permit application ... building services for development, regulation of buildings -- ensuring that those activities comply with local regulations, as well as regulations that govern public health,” explained Chaw.

On the other hand, non-recoverable costs (area-wide/general government) include long-range planning, code development, code enforcement, economic development, and front counter time with non-applicants.

Community Planning & Economic Development Director Joshua Cummings introduced FCS and its experience with government offices.

“One of the things that the interim county manager had relayed years ago was to get a handle on what our full scope of service and fees are,” Cummings explained. “We need to have an external group provide this fee study.”

Delivering services

Exigy Consulting representative Jeff Swanson worked with FCS Group for this project and said that the regulatory functions of governments include ensuring development complies with life safety, building codes, and land use regulations and following the statutory responsibilities of counties in RCW.

“It’s a very complex type of service to deliver. Overseeing all these functions requires a multidisciplinary approach. So, you've got specialists in the biological and environmental sciences, teaming up with engineers, planners, and building trades professionals to deliver this complex series of services,” said Swanson.

Swanson also mentioned that looking at the resource base is necessary, wherein the demand for services will need material and human resources to operate.

“As the legislative body of the jurisdiction, your responsibility is for allocating financial resources, adopting a budget that provides those resources to go and hire personnel and get the equipment technology necessary to do the job,” added Swanson.

Swanson said that delivering services is ‘very labor intensive’ and relies on staff with appropriate qualifications, so there's a very challenging shortage of candidates for these positions.

Financial risks are also associated with delivering the services, such as timelines and remitting some fees back to the applicant.