The Board of Supervisors Tuesday authorized the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health to conduct a fee study to determine the amount that the agency can hike its rates for a range of services before the start of fiscal year 2025-26.
Environmental Health Director Jeff Johnson submitted the request to the board, seeking approval of the study to lay the groundwork for a proposed “revision” to the county’s environmental health fees ordinance, which the board unanimously approved without comment.
Johnson last came before the board to alter the fee structure in June. At that time, his adjustments were based on an internal cost assessment, not exclusively the consumer price index for the region, which the Department of Environmental Health had used in the past.
“The cost recovery model developed by the department last year, with support of the Auditor-Controller’s Office, ensured effective and efficient delivery of environmental health programs in support of Riverside County residents and businesses,” Johnson said in documents posted to the board’s agenda Tuesday.
The fee hikes in 2024 generally ranged from 3% to 6%, though in a few cases service fees were frozen in place.
The permit and inspection fees that were increased last year covered a broad regulatory scheme, from food facilities to farm stands, and swimming pools to septic tanks.
Johnson and his staff are expected to return to the board before May with the new proposed fee structure.