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3 <br />USER FEE REPORT II <br />May 19,1998 <br />This is a continuation of the report given to the County Commissioners during the May <br />6, 1998 meeting. Report II focuses on fees charged for services or programs in the areas <br />of Recreation and Parks and the Transportation Division of the Department on Aging. In <br />addition, this report provides the requested follow-up information on the Erosion Control <br />Division of the Planning Department. Also provided, under separate cover, is <br />information requested on comparable fees charged by other local jurisdictions. As <br />mentioned in the previous report, fees in program areas that have been recently adjusted, <br />as well as regulated fees, were not included in the scope of the review. <br />Recreation and Parks <br />The services provided within Recreation and Parks include an extensive range of cultural <br />and athletic activities designed to serve the leisure and recreational needs of a broad cross <br />section of County residents. In considering the recovery of costs within this program <br />area, attention must be given to the nature of the activity, target population served, and <br />other related factors which affect both the feasibility and desirability of imposing fees. <br />Since it is a common practice to subsidize recreation and parks programs in most local <br />government jurisdictions, full cost recovery was not considered in reviewing these fees. <br />Fees within this area have been constant since the mid 1980s, except for summer camp <br />fees which were adjusted in 1997-98. Fee increases were recommended by David M. <br />Griffith, Inc. in the user fee study of 1989, however, none were implemented by the <br />County. <br />Since full cost recovery was not the objective in reviewing these fees at this time, <br />increases based on inflation were considered. The resulting fees adjusted for inflation are <br />included on the attached "Schedule I". <br />Aging Transportation <br />In the Transportation area, the current fees charged to users are for vehicles and drivers <br />based on County established mileage charge back rates, and actual drivers costs. These <br />fees include an additional amount to cover administrative overhead. In addition, <br />transportation vehicles provide a shuttle service to and between Towns for which tickets <br />are sold. Certain transportation provided by the public shuttles are medical trips that are <br />funded in part by grants which limit the amount of fees that can be assessed. <br />Transportation fees that can be adjusted currently recover 48% of the full costs. The <br />attached "Schedule II" reflects these fees at various levels of cost recovery. <br />