The Ways and Means Committee on May 16 approved a revised planning and zoning fee schedule proposed by county staff to cover rising administrative and mailing costs and make the department financially self‑supporting.

Chris (last name not specified in the transcript), a county planning staff member, told commissioners raising fees is necessary because applications such as conditional use permits and board of appeals hearings currently cost the department money after paying postage, planning commission expenses and administrative time. He and Brandy (last name not specified) also proposed asking the 11 townships the county serves to begin paying toward planning and zoning services, with a maximum township charge of $15,000 for the 2025–26 budget year.

Commissioners approved implementing the new fee schedule June 1, with a July 1 latest start date for the scheduling language and an anticipated start to township contract payments of Oct. 1 following the next budget process. Commissioner discussion focused on whether the new fees were in line with neighboring counties and the workload differences for specific application types. County staff explained private‑road and rezoning applications require extensive reviews, multiple public notices and agency coordination; they justified increases in those line items accordingly.

The motion was amended on the floor to set June 1 as the fee schedule start date and carried by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The fee schedule will be presented to the full board for final approval.