HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 7-6-21 Agenda (2)KITTITAS COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
AGENDA DATE: July 6, 2021
ACTION REQUESTED: Request to Approve an Ordinance amending Kittitas County Code Chapter 4.08 - Processing Fees and a Resolution updating the application fees for Current Use Classification
of Farm and Agricultural Lands, and Designated Forest Lands.
BACKGROUND: Kittitas County is authorized by statute to charge a reasonable processing fee for processing applications for current use classification of farm and agricultural lands (RCW
84.34.030) and designated forestland (RCW 84.33.130). In 1989 the Kittitas County Board of Commissioners set the Farm and Ag classification fee at $100 (Ord. 89-12). In 2002, the Board
established a $100 fee for the Designated Forestland application (Res. 2002-13). The application fee for each program includes staff time and recording costs. There have been significant
increases in the cost of staff time and recording fees since both fees were established (recording fees alone will increase to $203.50 on July 25, 2021). The proposed Resolution will
establish new reasonable fees and establish that future fee changes be set by resolution. The Ordinance amends County Code to include the authority of the Commissioners to establish
fees for both programs and to remove a section regarding Current Use and Timber land that is obsolete.
INTERACTION: The Prosecutors office has reviewed and approved the proposed Ordinance and Resolution.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve an Ordinance amending Kittitas County Code Chapter 4.08 - Processing Fees and a Resolution updating the application fees for Current Use Classification of Farm
and Agricultural Lands, and Designated Forest Lands.
HANDLING: Original – Clerk of the Board
Copy – Assessor
Copy – Prosecutor
ATTACHMENTS: An Ordinance amending Kittitas County Code Chapter 4.08 – Processing Fees
A Resolution updating the Application Fees for Current Use Classification of Farm and Agricultural Lands, and Designated Forest Lands
LEAD STAFF: Mike Hougardy, Kittitas County Assessor