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Planning and Growth Committee
Part 1
CHARTER
The Planning and Growth Committee investigates issues dealing with growth and development in San Benito County
Committee Members
Jerry Thome, Chairperson
Ken Capulli
Billie Jimenez
Jose Martinez
Reb Monaco
Dian Wood Picone
METHOD OF REVIEW
Documents
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County of San Benito Building permits issued July 1, 1999 through November 30, 1999. |
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Treasurer/Tax Collector deposits from July 1, 1999 through November 30, 1999. |
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City of Hollister Building permits issued July 1, 1999 through November 30, 1999. |
Interviews
I.
BUILDING PERMIT FEES
OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS, AND CONCLUSIONS
The Grand Jury has conducted a study over the past several months dealing with old and new problems the housing boom has brought to San Benito County and the City of Hollister. The Grand Jury began its investigation with the tracking of imposed impact fees, which are added to the permit fees. Permit fees are meant to cover operating expenses of the building department. Both the City and County charge permit fees. Impact fees are charged over and above building permit fees to mitigate the costs for items such as traffic, schools, parks, jails, police, fire and sewer.
The County Building Department was asked to turn over records of permits issued from July 1, 1999 through November 30, 1999, for a controlled comparison of fees collected to fees deposited. The County Treasury Department was also asked for deposit records for that same time period. Deposits were tracked to the County Auditor's Office for county deposits.
The City of Hollister Building Department was asked to turn over permit records from July 1, 1999 through November 30, 1999, and fees were tracked to the Hollister Finance Department for city deposits.
RECOMMENDATIONS
This Grand Jury found no discrepancies between fees collected and fees deposited either for the county or for the city. There were some time delays in county deposits, which may have caused a loss of interest income for the county. It would take an audit to determine if the funds collected by the city or the county are being used for their intended purpose.
The 1999-2000 Grand Jury makes the following recommendations to the San Benito County Board of Supervisors and the Hollister City Council:
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That a full financial audit of all building permit and impact fees collected by the City of Hollister and the County of San Benito for the past three years be conducted by an independent auditor.
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That the results of these audits be made public and a report be sent to the 2000-2001 Grand Jury.
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That upon completion, the City of Hollister and the County of San Benito audits be used to determine whether an adjustment needs to be made to cover increasing costs related to development for city and county services. |
AFFECTED AGENCIES
San Benito County Board of Supervisors
San Benito County Planning Commission
San Benito County Auditor's Office
Hollister City Council
Hollister City Manager
Hollister City Planning Commission
RESPONSE REQUIRED
California Penal Code, §923, requires that a response to this final report and its recommendations must be delivered to the presiding judge of the Superior Court within 90 days of receipt of this report.
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