Wednesday, April 25, 2001
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Wednesday, April 25, 2001 |
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PTC eyes fee increases for businesses, builders, some rec activities By JOHN MUNFORD
Most of the fee increases Peachtree City is considering won't directly impact citizens. But you can expect the fee hikes to affect local businesses and builders significantly, if they are eventually approved. The City Council tabled action on the fee hike proposal so the public could be notified about the plan and make comment at a future council meeting. If the fee hike proposal is approved, citizens would only be hit by higher recreation fees, double speeding fines in school zones and a $2 per case fee for each municipal court case to fund the court's computer system. Local businesses, however, could see the maximum occupational tax increase $325 initially and then an additional $500 each year over the following four years. That would pad the city's bottom line by an estimated $31,000 the first year and $120,000 by the fifth year. The per employee charge on businesses would also rise from $12 to $15. Also, Building Department permit fees would be increased along with alcohol taxes. The largest fee hikes for recreation were placed on out-of-county residents or organizations who want to rent recreation facilities. Council also discussed doubling the fees for pool passes at the Kedron indoor pool, particularly after Councilwoman Annie McMenamin said she was still receiving complaints about many out-of-county residents using the pool. Also proposed is the creation of applying fees to commercial entities that wish to rent recreation facilities. The fee raises for city residents tend to be between $10 and $30 for the most part, covering swimming lessons to gym rentals to city parks and meeting rooms. The building department permit hikes likely to impact residents most are the pool permits, which would rise from $20 to $50 and the variance fee from $50 to $250 per request. Residential building permits would increase from 10 cents per square foot with a $200 minimum to 25 cents per square foot with a $300 minimum. Commercial building permits would likewise increase from $3 per 1000 square feet with a $30 minimum to $5 per 1,000 square feet to a $300 minimum. The largest proposed fee hike related to alcohol licenses is the permit to pour beer, wine and distilled spirits, which would increase from the current $2,500 by $500 each of the next five years.
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