Santa Barbara County Supervisors Approve Significant Fee Increases for Environmental Health Permits

In a move to address rising operational costs, Santa Barbara County's Board of Supervisors has taken the first step towards increasing fees for various Environmental Health Services permits. The decision, made during a meeting on May 13, could see fees soar by hundreds of dollars for services ranging from tattoo shop permits to public swimming pools.

For instance, the fee for an underground petroleum storage tank will rise from $1,165 to $2,008, marking an increase of $843, while new septic systems will see their fees jump from $1,438 to $2,016. These adjustments aim to better reflect the workload involved in processing applications, according to Mouhanad Hammami, the director of the County Health Department.

In total, 66 out of the 91 fees overseen by Environmental Health Services are set to increase, with some fees combined into a new flat rate of $145. The board anticipates that these changes could bring in an additional $775,000, aiding a department facing a projected deficit of up to $500,000 this fiscal year.

Despite acknowledging the importance of public health, Fourth District Supervisor Bob Nelson voted against the proposal, expressing concerns about the potential burden on local businesses. The board's approval was not final, as it will revisit the proposal for a second vote next week.

Source: www.noozhawk.com