Huge increase for Hendersonville permit fees

are being considered. This will be a tax increase, plain and simple. If we allow those within government to determine the size of their budgets, they will NEVER, EVER have enough of our money. No department head would EVER recommend reducing expenses but hard decisions MUST be made sometimes and that is the job of our elected representatives.

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Steve Mills, Hendersonville codes director, estimated a 2,000 square-foot, wood-framed house with a two-car garage would have a $684.50 permit fee under the current standards. If the proposed fee increase is approved, that figure would jump to $1,237.

For a commercial site, Mills determined the permit fee for a 10,000 square-foot building is currently $3,648.50. Under the proposed increase, the fee would go up to $8,855.

He said the changes are not designed to put pressure on builders, but to "deal with the philosophy that (codes) should cover its expenses through revenues."

The codes department finished the 2007-08 fiscal year with a $170,000 shortfall in collections beneath the departmental budget, he said.

Aldermen have deferred the decision on the increase twice and could discuss it again in September.