Title
Adopt Resolution to:
Amend Article I.E. of the Monterey County Master Fee Resolution effective July 1, 2015, to adjust fees relating to oversight and services provided by the Health Department's Environmental Health Bureau pursuant to the attached Fee Schedule.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Adopt Resolution to: Amend Article I.E. of the Monterey County Master Fee Resolution effective July 1, 2015, to adjust fees relating to oversight and services provided by the Health Department's Environmental Health Bureau pursuant to the attached Fee Schedule.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Health Department's Environmental Health Bureau (EHB) is requesting approval of MINOR adjustments to the County Master Fee schedule, Article I.E., to more closely reflect, while still not exceeding, the actual and reasonable costs of services and benefits provided to the public by the EHB. This proposal includes the addition of fees for copy and research services in response to subpoena requests and an additional 3% administrative fee for credit card transactions (administrative expense and pass-through of averaged actual costs from card companies to payors by charge card). In addition, the request includes a minor treatment and reclassification of 'Limited Quantity Medical Waste Haulers' as 'Small Quantity Medical Waste Generators' pursuant to changes in the applicable State Law. Adoption of the proposed fees will contribute to the self-sufficiency of the indicated programs, thus minimizing the need for additional future General Fund Contributions for those services.
It is anticipated that, after a detailed evaluation of services and fees and the overall rate structure that EHB will return to the Board in Fiscal Year 2015-16 with a proposal that will include a more detailed plan to improve the structure of the entire fee article.
By definition, the changes to these charges are not a 'tax' and are exempt from voter approval pursuant to Article XIII C section 1(e)(1)-(3) of the California Constitution (Prop. 26; charges imposed for specific benefit conferred/privilege/service or product, and/or reasonable regulatory costs provided or granted to the payor). As such, they reflect no more than the actual cost of the service/benefit received by the payor.
The proposed fee adjustments are attached as follows: Attachment 1 - Revised Article I.E. Fee Schedule Strikethrough, Attachment 1a - Revised Article I.E. Fee Schedule Clean and Attachment 2 - Board Resolution.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed, and approved as to legal form, the proposed amendment to Article I.E. of the Monterey County Master Fee Resolution.
FINANCING:
The recommended fee adjustments are intended to improve on the recapture of costs associated with the provision of the indicated services, and do not exceed actual costs for providing these services. As such, the fees represent a charge imposed for the specific regulatory service provided directly to the payor that is not provided to those not charged, and which does not exceed the reasonable costs to the County for providing the regulatory service. Anticipated revenues resulting from the proposed fee adjustments are included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015-16 Recommended Budget.
The proposed fee adjustments will offset actual expenditures incurred associated with the proposed fees. This action will have no impact on the General Fund Contributions for these services.
Prepared by: Robin Kimball, Management Analyst, 1297
Approved by: Ray Bullick, Director of Health, 4526
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Revised Article I.E. Fee Schedule Strikethrough
Attachment 1a - Revised Article I.E. Fee Schedule Clean
Attachment 2 - Resolution (proposed)