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ADMINISTRATION - Chief Administrator Gabriel Hydrick
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Requested Action(s)
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a) Request approval and authorization for the Chief Administrator to accept the proposal submitted by Matrix Consulting Group to conduct a comprehensive countywide fee study and to initiate the work as outlined in the proposal
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Financial Impact:
There is no financial impact at this time. An agreement will be forthcoming.
Background Information:
To ensure County’s efforts are current and consistent with cost recovery, the County is seeking assistance from a qualified consultant to perform a countywide fee study. The benefits include transparency, accountability, legal compliance, consistency across departments, and allow for future planning and adjustments. The current fees may no longer reflect the actual cost of service delivery, leading to outdated cost recovery models and placing an increasing strain on the County General Fund. Over the past three years, several departments have expressed interest in updating their fees; however, limited staff capacity and resources have hindered meaningful progress. Many departments recognize the need and have actively collaborated to get to this point.
In response, a consensus emerged among the departments to move forward with a countywide fee study by issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify a qualified vendor. County Administration took the lead in drafting the RFP, which was developed in collaboration with input from the Planning Department, Building Department, Tax Collector/Treasurer, Assessor, Environmental Health, Fire, and Public Works.
The RFP was published in July 2025 and remained open until its closing date on August 31, 2025. An Addendum was published in early August that requested assessment of the County’s franchise fees. A total of three responsive proposals were received. Costs of the Proposals ranged between $37,000 and $120,000.
The next phase involved evaluating the submitted proposals, which included conducting interviews with the top ranked vendors. With the support of the Tax Collector/Treasurer, interviews were held in September. Following the interview process, the panel unanimously selected Matrix Consulting Group as the highest ranking and most cost-effective vendor to conduct the countywide fee study.
Matrix requested additional time to prepare a comprehensive proposal addressing franchise fees and cost allocations. The proposal is currently under review and will be presented to the Board in the near future.
Conducting a comprehensive fee study is a critical financial planning tool that ensures County fees and charges for services are equitable, justifiable and align with the actual cost of service delivery and ensure maximization of cost recovery. The fee study will evaluate current cost recovery levels, identify potential revenue gaps and provide a defensible basis for adjusting or establishing fees in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Matrix Consulting Group (Matrix) will leverage its expertise to assist departments countywide in evaluating and updating their fee schedules. Additionally, Matrix will provide a methodology that the County can use to periodically review and adjust fees, ensuring they remain accurate and up to date over time. Any proposed fee adjustments will be presented publicly to the Board for review and approval prior to implementation.