§ 3-44. Hourly fees; deposits; billing procedures.

(a)

Hourly fees for all personnel within the Planning Division of the Department of Development Services are adopted by Resolution of the Board of Supervisors as part of the Butte County Master Fee Schedule. The fees in the Planning Division are subject to periodic adjustment based on the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Cost Index (ECI) for State and Local Government.

(b)

For applications that are charged hourly fees, the applicant shall deposit with Butte County the sum set forth for each application. Concurrent applications require the applicant to deposit the sum of all matters being concurrently processed.

(c)

When the initial deposited funds are depleted to an amount equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the original deposit, no additional processing of the application will occur until the applicant deposits with Butte County sufficient funds to restore a balance equal to the amount of the initial deposit, unless a lesser amount is approved by the Director of Development Services or his/her designee. In the event the applicant does not provide sufficient funds to continue processing an application, the application will be denied.

(d)

Funds shall be maintained in a separate budget control account.

(e)

After final action of the appropriate legislative body, any funds remaining in the account shall be returned to the applicant.

(f)

Applications requiring legal notification will be required to deposit an additional fee for estimated publishing costs, as prescribed. If the actual costs for County employees' time and publishing are less than the amount deposited, the remaining amount of the money shall be returned. If the costs are greater than the estimate, the applicant shall pay the additional amount. In the event that payment is not received for the additional amounts, the Department of Development Services will notify Central Collections.

(Ord. No. 3070, § 1, 5-11-93; Ord. No. 3120, § 4, 2-22-94; Ord. No. 3269, § 4, 6-11-96; Ord. No. 3865, § 3, 12-2-03; Ord. No. 3940, § 7, 10-10-06; Ord. No. 3945, § 5, 11-21-06; Ord. No. 3971, § 6, 11-27-07; Ord. No. 4001, § 10, 3-24-09)