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The water mitigation fee is broken out into cost recovery, an in -lieu fee, program <br />administration fee, pre -payment of the first annual metering fee, and the auditor / finance <br />fee. These fees are detailed in Exhibit 1. Public Works staff proposes to continue to retain <br />the auditor / finance fee and to start retaining most of the program administration fee <br />when refunds are issued. <br />Public Works proposes to start retaining $1,125 per refunded mitigation certificate, which <br />is about 25% of the water mitigation package fee (with the exception of water mitigation <br />for cisterns, which is currently discounted because the water mitigation program does not <br />currently support groundwater well use in these areas). <br />DISCUSSION: <br />In addition to the direct staff time required to process mitigation certificates, the program <br />administration fee covers staffing costs to provide technical assistance to landowners to <br />help them understand mitigation requirements and options. This educational aspect is an <br />important component of our annual work program. Public works would refund the <br />portion of the program administration fee that covers water meter inspections, since this <br />service has not been provided for refunded mitigation certificates. <br />Kittitas County uses the same fee schedule for both County -held water rights and private <br />bank water rights administered through our mitigation program. Private bankers are paid <br />the cost recovery component of the water mitigation fee and are deducted the cost <br />recovery fee for refunded mitigation certificates issued through their banks. <br />Water associated with mitigation certificates that are no longer valid is tracked and can be <br />re -distributed for a new use. <br />FISCAL IMPACTS: <br />In 2021 Kittitas County issued refunds for 12 certificates. By retaining the proposed <br />program administration fee, Public Works would have retained $13,500 to help cover <br />staff costs. <br />ATTACHMENTS: <br />Exhibit 1: Water Mitigation Fee Breakout and Proposed Refund Amounts <br />Page 2 of 3 <br />PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />